Mary at the Nativity

Mary in the Bible

There are some that say that the Bible really says very little about Mary. However, that is quite contrary to the truth. There are actually a lot of references to Our Lady. For some of these references, you have to do a little bit of digging.

Old Testament Bible Quotes about Mary

Let’s start at the beginning of the Bible. She is first mentioned in Genesis 3:15, as the Woman whose offspring (Jesus) will crush the head of the serpent (Satan).

Genesis 3:15:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

We see her, again, in a prophecy in the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 7:14:
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

New Testament Bible Quotes about Mary

However, we find most of our references to Mary in the Gospels, probably mostly because she lived during the time that the New Testament depicts to us. We see many glimpses into the mystery of this masterpiece of God’s creation. Catholics hold that Mary was born free of sin thus making her fit enough to bear God’s only son. First, she is greeted by the Angel Gabriel. How did the Angel greet her?

Luke 1:28:
“Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women!”

This translation is very familiar to Catholics and the Bible, but let’s take a look at how other translations read Luke 1:28.

KJV:
“…Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”

RSV:
“Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

NIV:
“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

It seems a great deal of effort is being put in place to minimize Gabriel’s greeting to her. However, we can know that the greeting was unusual and astounding because of Mary’s reaction to it no matter what translation one uses.

Luke 1:29:
“But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.”

What those other translations take great pains to hide is that Gabriel said she was “full of grace”. It was, indeed, an unusual greeting. What does this passage mean? It means she was 100% filled with sanctifying grace, with no blemish on her soul. It means that we have proof of her immaculate conception (which is when she was conceived by her mother and not when she conceived Jesus).

What else does the Bible say about Mary?

It tells us that she is the mother of God in no uncertain terms.

Matthew 1:20:
“But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.'”

Matthew 2:11
“…and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Obviously if you are already a Christian then you know that this worship is not in vain since we are all taught that Mary was the mother of Jesus.

And here is another Catholic favorite:

Luke 1:41-43:
“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN, AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF YOUR WOMB!! [emphasis added] And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Now, if Mary is “just another woman,” why would Elizabeth be in awe that she was granted a visit from “the mother of my lord?” It just doesn’t make sense that if Mary is any old person and not to be revered in some way that she is treated with such respect and has many honors bestowed upon her such as being “full of grace” and the other examples given.

The Bible shows us that Mary was the perfect example of obedience and humility.

Luke 1:38:
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”

It tells us how Mary meditated on all of God’s words and actions.

Luke 2:19:
“But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

It tells us that Jesus was obedient to her.

Luke 2:51:
“And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.”

It tells us that Jesus first Public miracle, even before His time, was performed because she asked it of Him.

John 2:3-10:
“When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.’ So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water it now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.'”

Some say that Jesus was rebuking Mary by calling her “woman,” but that is another issue best left for another time.

It tells us how Mary was anguished when she could not find her son for 3 days.

Luke 2:46-49:
“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, ‘How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?'”

It tells us that she came to see Him while He ministered.

Matthew 12:46:
“While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.” *Note: “brothers” here means relatives…i.e. cousins
[related: Brothers of Jesus?]

It tells us that a “sword would pierce her soul” (her pain of Christ’s passion), in order that the heart’s of many would be revealed!

Luke 2:34-35:
“…and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.'”

It tells us that “all generations would call her “blessed” yet this is not carried out today by some “Christians” as they tend to disregard Mary as ever being important.

Luke 1:48:
“…for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.”

It tells us that Mary stood at the very foot of the cross as her Holy Son died. And He gave her to us as a spiritual mother.

John 19:25-27:
“So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”

It tells us that when the apostles prayed in the upper room that, again, she was with them.

Acts 1:13-14:
“…and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

She is mentioned, yet again, by Paul.

Galatians 4:4:
“But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law…”

Finally, we reach the book of Revelation where she is shown most compellingly in chapters 11 & 12. It is here, that we are given an eye-opening view of just who she is. Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant.

Everything in the OLD Covenant is a foreshadowing of the new. The Ark of the Covenant held the ‘Word of God’, both in the OLD Covenant (the Torah) and the new (Jesus). Read the first few lines of the Gospel of John. Jesus is the Word, the Word made flesh, so wouldn’t he deserve an ark as well? The Ark was so holy it wasn’t even to be touched. Those who had the Ark with them were never defeated. Make no mistake, The Ark of the Covenant, and the queen of the apostles (the 12 stars in Revelation) is Mary.

Revelation 11:19-12:2:
“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery.”

We know that the woman is Mary because we can see who her son is.

Revelation 12:5:
“She brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne…”

Then, we are told that the dragon wages war with HER and HER children, who are the true believers of God.

Revelation 12:17:
“Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus.”

This last passage not only shows proof of Mary in the Bible and her importance, but it shows that all followers of Christ, all Christians, are children of Mary as well as we already know that we are children of God. The grammar and syntax of that passage do not say otherwise. “Her offspring” refers to the statement that immediately comes after the comma of that statement. “Her offspring” are the followers of Jesus Christ. We are new people reborn in Christ through baptism, thus his Father becoming our Father and only logically his mother becoming our mother.

It is all there in the Bible. You see, for reasons I can not explain, some people are so convinced that Catholics worship Mary, that they overreact and commit what I feel is a grave sin. Mary is reduced to the role of an insignificant player in God’s plan that God used and then threw away! People like to say that none of this is on the Bible, but it was clearly demonstrated above that many and all Marian ideas are straight from Scripture! Now, I ask you? Can you think of a single other example, in Scripture, where God uses someone once then casts them aside like yesterday’s newspaper?

Questions for Reflection

While you ponder that, here are a few other things to may make one stop and think about for a moment:

  1. The Bible says Jesus “… grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. ” (Luke 2:40) Who taught him, and helped Him grow strong? While realizing that He had a Divine nature, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that He was fully human as well! He was a human who had to learn to talk, to walk and, yes, even to pray. This paradox seems inconceivable to us, but Scripture tells us that Jesus was like us IN ALL THINGS except sin. So Mary bore Him, fed Him, clothed Him, bathed Him and taught Him; all the things a mother would do. And some would like to go on like none of this is important.
  2. Jesus was the perfect man. As the perfect man, He would have perfectly obeyed the law, yes? Well, the law (Torah) says “honor your father and mother.” Jesus would not only honor her, but He would do it perfectly. If Jesus, the perfect man (and God) honors Mary, how can we do wrong by doing so? Now, some will say Catholics cross the line and worship Mary but that’s absurd and results from an incorrect view of worship.
  3. Jesus is the only person, in all of history, with the ability to choose His mother. That He chose Mary is reason enough for me!

84 thoughts on “Mary in the Bible”

  1. Catholicism is a misguided teachings that teach human teachings.

    1. Is there in the Bible listed Mary taken to heaven?

    2. Is there in the Bible listed Mary queen of heaven?

    3. Is there in the Bible listed Mary innocent?

    4. Is there in the Bible listed we should do the Rosary prayer?

    5. Is it in the Bible listed we are told to pray to the dead and ask the dead for help?

    6. Is there in the Bible listed we are told to make a statue in place of worship and should kneel and kiss it a statue?

    7. Is it in the Bible that only the Pope can interpret the Bible?

    8. Does the Bible say the Pope can not go astray / wrong?

    Show the Bible verse, if you do not immediately get out of a catholic seducer.

  2. Catholics are not ‘Original’ Christians. Stop believing in their doctrine and go back to the Gospels and Letters of the Apostles.

  3. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
    Philippians 1:9–11

  4. I am Catholic. But do not venerate Mary. And feel pity when I see here brothers and sisters are arguing about who is Mary and what is she. Bible is clear with that. All the rest is man made. My sisters and brothers Catholics are falling in trap to defend Mary, brothers and sisters Protestants are falling in trap to find anything against her. It is all bad and pity. Mary is the Mother of Jesus and God orders us to honor our parents. It is part of the 10 commandments, not randomly mentioned in the Bible. So Mary must be honored, people called Christians shall not digging any translation just to find any word, showing ” she is just one of many”. I can’t accept some brothers and sisters Catholics, praying to Mary, as she is goddess. I saw that several times and at that time I left the prayer meetings. We are all sinners. In the holy name of Lord Jesus Christ, we have to find common way together towards the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is the ” Way, Truth and Life”.

    1. Mary was a woman full of grace, yes, like moses eliah,Enoch etc. They were all servants who served as an instrument to bring forth the prophecy.Now when it comes to praising(in general whatever comes out the mouth)its for the Lord and him only. Too much “honor”can kind make u give less to the one who brings salvation. And there is no Mary who can save u.

        1. She gave birth to Him and women bleed during childbirth so she bled for Him and He shed His blood for all of mankind.
          Catholics don’t pray “to” Mary, we pray for her intercession. I think a son would be more apt to do something someone requested if his Mom asked him to do it. It’s just a human thing. As in one of the gospels, He doesn’t always respond the first time we ask. May He bless this world and all of it’s people—we are in so need of blessings.

  5. I see a common theme here. Protestant vs Catholic. I am an imperfect child of God. I have no authority to judge. I am called to be the very best person I can be. I am called to “Love one
    another as I have loved you”. Please, please everyone! Can we agree on one thing? We are to be obedient to the death. Do pro’s really care what we think? Do we really care what their path is to Christ? Whom ever is without sin shall cast the first stone. I can’t judge the protestants for their beliefs or I am choosing death and separation from God. I am called to pray for the conversion of sinners that they find Christ. I want all of there…If I don’t strive for that I make a conscious decision to condemn myself and everything I hold dear to an eternal separation from God. I pray that I can show, feel, know and receive God’s love. You’re not a huge fan of Mary. That’s ok. There are other ways to salvation. My path to Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ was made possible, revealed to me (only me) by God’s graces. These came to me by observation and acceptance of my wife. It took a woman to make me a man. I see God speaking through my wife. After understanding the profundity of Mary’s role in Salvation history, it made me think. Then it made me hunger for an understanding of Christ. This happened after 42 years on this planet. Including being a really, really bad Christian. You may even say I wasn’t Christian at all. I didn’t know, understand, or adore God. I was completely blind to it. I thank God daily for my wife. I thank Mary, by the power of God only, that she spoke through my wife. So is that worship of Mary? Not in my opinion. I am asking for someone’s help to show me the light and perfect love of God…the trinity to my tiny, unenlightened mind. So please, look at our myriad similarities. Brush the differences under the rug. This infighting is a trick of Satan to divide and conquer the souls of the faithful. I love you all…I must or I choose hell. We have bigger problems in our world. Whole sale murder, rampant secularism where are children are taught that all choices are ok without pain or suffering. Whoever said the path was wide to Salvation? Nope, it’s narrow. Please, trying to be “right” is saying God, I know better than Thee. I truly truly hope we all find God. I have no idea how it works for you. I just want us together. I want to be with you in the light of God. Is it in heaven? How would I know that. I’d have to have some seriously divine knowledge to read a book that, as Christian’s, we believe infallible. Hey, do your best. I hope to see you there even if I don’t…but really hope I do. Try to get someone to see our common faith for what it is. If you guys are correct…I’ll be really happy to see you go ahead of me. If I’m correct, then I’ll be asking, begging, and pleading for all souls to get to Heaven. If I ask Mary to speak with God on my behalf and also thank Her for her help (or intercession as we crazy Catholics call it) I will apologize to you and offer my spot to make it up to you. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE. May God bless you and all of your families for every last generation.

    1. Thank you, wise words.
      God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus! How do you unmother her? Mary personifies what a mother is, thank God for Mary!

  6. One of the posters above keeps saying that no one is in heaven but God and angels.
    When Jesus was dying on the cross, he spoke to one of the the two men that were also crucified next him. Remember what Jesus said to him, that he would be with him in paradise THAT SAME DAY!!!!!!
    Hmmmm…
    I always remember that passage because it is so powerful to me how our Lord is always so forgiving of us!I

    And prayer is most definitely a must, we are told to pray without ceasing!!!

    1. That is a lie from the devil. Because revelation 6:9-11 says that the ppl who died by their by jesus name were under Gods altar, and they said when will God avenge the inhabitants of earth who murdered them. If no human is in heaven, how are they conversating? Catholics are just slow at understanding

  7. If ask any any person here to pray for me and my family or for my personal issues ? Would you take a moment and pray for us?. . Would you join in prayer? (The power of prayer ) or will you tell me no? Would you say no because I should only pray for my self? And my family should pray individually? Well I think a good Christian will actually pray for me or join me. I know I can pray straight to God and I do ,but I also choose to pray with my family and friends. So why is it wrong to ask the Virgin Mary to pray for me? Why can’t she join me, How is that wrong. Why can you or we he have a picture of a relative to remember them, but can’t have a crucifix or painting of God’s mother. We don’t worship the relatives pitures, nor do we worship statues, it’s a sin to worship idols, I don’t know a true catholic person that worships idols, we may have statues in a church or building but doesn’t mean we worship them .. you guys are misinformed ! They are just there as a point of focus or to remember them. Just like a family picture. We don’t worship the ink, the wood frame or none of that…you guys are silly. Wow who ever told you that we worship idols. they really screwed you guys up..that goes to show you , you should not judge someone ,because you don’t know the facts. Also we don’t pray to the Virgin Mary, we simply asked her to intercede for us that’s all. Before you judge you should listen or hear the prayers. . I can’t believe you guys will take the time to write and judge about some one religion without knowing the facts. When you talk bad about Any church you are offending Gods bride. You and I are the church. Please becareful because you are also offending God’s mother.

    1. I’m not getting into details with you since you are a catholic.
      Statues are a symbol of idolatry
      Catholics are linked to Rome vaticane. The pope rules all of you(believe it or not) and who crucified Jesus? The romans. All I gotta say.

      1. Out of context little! Did you blame the German friends that they killed many Jews during holocaust? So foolish and stupid is your argument.

    2. watch for your Salvation

      if Mary was the ‘mother of God’ this would mean God had a beginning. God is eternal and is Spirit, He has no beginning and no end. Mary was a chosen vessel for Gods purpose that is it. As we also are chosen vessels to bring the purposes of God to this world ie the gospel. Of course Mary is mentioned in the new testament, but even Jesus before His crucifixion made it clear that those who DO the will of God are His Mother, brothers and Sisters. Mary was OUTSIDE not in the house or IN the Lords house at this point. She is dead like every other saint gone before us. She cannot hear neither respond there is ONE mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ. This is a great deception the devil has wrought that people give hope to Mary rather than Jesus this is an anti-Christ spirit at work. one last thing when talking about JESUS please give Him the honour that is due and capitalize His name as you do with Mary!
      Do you not know that the devil can do counterfeit miracles?

    3. The Bible tells us the only way the narrow path to God and heaven is only through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
      Yes, Mary was the Mother of God because yes Jesus is God.
      God choose many many people to bring us his word and to show us to the way and the way is through the ultimate and that is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and Mary accepted Gods request as did all the others in the Bible and all the others full filled Gods word.
      Please pick up your bibles and ask God to show you his word.

  8. The Virgin Mary mother of Jesus: I just want to say that with the power of God , Our Savior everything is possible: Millions of people are flocking to Medugorje, the place in the middle of nowhere in Bosnia & Herzegovina where the faithful had experienced a host of indescribable spiritual encounters. The Virgin Mary apparitions to visionaries in different countries such like the little village of Lourdes in France when our Lady appeared to Bernadette on Thursday, February 25, 1858. The Lady told her ” Drink from the fountain and bath in it” Bernadette was puzzled because she couldn’t see no fountain, she scratched the loose gravel and a spring was formed and by the next day water was flowing all over the rocks and since then to this day millions continue on the pilgrimage to Lourdes and many have been healed from incurable diseases !! When she appeared in Fatima Portugal on the 13 May 1917. Here the Visionaries received rays of penetrating light coming from the Lady’s hands. Lucia writes, ” it penetrated our hearts and the inner most Depth of our soul making us see ourselves in God, who was that light, more clearly than we see ourselves in the best of mirrors “. After this the children fell to their knees repeating over and over “O most Holy Trinity, I adore you! My God , my God , I love You in the most Blessed Sacrement!”. During the 20th century apparition of our Lady to visionary Maria Esperanza there she appeared under the title “Mary, Virgin and reconciler of all people and nations”. Maria Esperanza is considered the greatest Mystics of our time. Maria displayed unexplainable phenomena that defies natural humanistic explanation. Maria suffered the piercing of stigmata (the bleeding wounds of Jesus Christ) much like Padre Pio and St Francis.
    Now we have Medugorje where Pilgrims around the world have seen unusual phenomena in the Medugorje sun, the unmistakable smell of roses, both singularity and in Mass , the flagrance is such that there are no words to describe the feeling the way your body responded to it , your tears just streams down your face, the flagrance of roses with a heavenly sent. I was there myself on 2nd September 2016 during an apparition to one of the visionary Mirjana Dragcevic at the Blue Cross, I saw the sun dance , pulsate, jumping around and moving, it was quite extraordinary, thousands of people were there that morning. When I went back to my hotel, I asked some of the people who went that morning “did you see the sun” “Yes they responded it was crazy it was going up and down!”. “My rosary’s chain links have turned to gold” a lady was saying with tears in her eyes. “The Fruit of Medugorje is Good !!”I repled. The Lord Jesus is sending his Mother as his messenger to earth to warn us of things to come.
    Luke 1:28:
    “Hail Mary Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women”

  9. Further Comments:
    Was Mary a perpetual virgin and never consummated her marriage to Joseph? (Matthew 1:24,25) says about Joseph, “. . . and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her UNTIL she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” The word UNTIL clearly means that Mary & Joseph DID have sexual union after Jesus was born, after which time they had other children together — Jesus’s brothers and sisters. Marital sex is not a sin or unholy. It is God’s plan.

    Is Mary the “mother of God” as it says in the Hail Mary? God always existed. The Trinity – – Father, Son and Holy Ghost had no beginning, and will have no end, thus could not have had a mother. God created Mary. Mary is the mother of the man Jesus, and should not be hailed as the mother of God.

    Is praying to Mary idol worship? In the FIRST, and most important of the 10 commandments, God says, “I am the Lord thy God. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make an idol in the form of anything in heaven, on earth, or the waters below. Do not bow down to them or worship them, for I am a jealous God, punishing . . .”
    Going further on this point, in (Deuteronomy 27:15) Moses says, “Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts and Idol – – a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of the Craftsman’s hands.” In every Catholic church, some craftsman has carved an image of Mary and of saints, to whom Catholics bow down and pray. St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC has a separate part of the church called the “Lady Chapel” where Mary is bowed down to and prayed to. Whole churches are named for her — Our Lady of this or Our Lady of that – – glorifying Mary. They say the rosary in which there are 10 Hail Marys to every one Our Father. This is clearly idolatry – – detested more than anything else by God who alone deserves all honor and praise.

    1. “Matthew is concerned to emphasize that Joseph wasn’t responsible for the conception of Jesus. The Greek word for “until” does not imply normal marital conduct after Jesus’s birth nor does it exclude it”

      This was in the footnotes of the New American Bible.

    2. Point of correction, Mary is d mother of God also and not d mother of man Jesus only;Jesus is not a man and was neva even a man; he was half-man, half-God, now , he is a spirit( a God); He is now part of d Holy Trinity.So, since Jesus is God d son, Mary is the mother of God.So, think again pls.

      1. See your Salvation

        NO Jesus was fully God but fully man not half and half. The trinity has ALWAYS existed in Father Son and Spirit it didnt become after Jesus’ ascension. Collossians 1:16, Gen 1:1 All are in the beginning with God. Jesus is the Logos (Word) of God made flesh (see john 1:1)

  10. CATHOLICS! Please read what TOMMY SCOTT has to say (on pages 17-21 in the text above). He answers your manipulation of the Bible accurately, by pointing out passages you conveniently leave out or about which you just make assumptions. I would like to add: WHEN AND HOW DID JESUS EVER VENERATE MARY? He addressed her only 3 times in scripture, and each time he called her “woman.” He never once called her mother. This was the same way Jesus addressed the woman at the well, who was a Samaritan (a people who were despised and shunned by the Jews, and a woman who had had 4 husbands and was now living with a man not her husband). Woman! When the Holy Family went up to register according to the law, Mary and Joseph could not find Jesus and searched desperately for Him. He just left them without a word. When they finally found Him, he asked Mary, don’t you know I have to be about my Father’s business? Jesus was all about the Father in heaven, and only about that — not about his mother. In (John 2:3 when Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding feast at Mary’s prompting, His response to her was one of annoyance, saying, “Woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come,” but did her bidding out of obedience. In (Matthew 6: 9), Jesus taught us to pray by saying, “Our Father in heaven…” and gave us the Lord’s prayer. He instructed us to pray to God, not anyone else. SO AGAIN, WHEN AND HOW DID JESUS SAY OR EVEN IMPLY ONE WORD ABOUT VENERATING MARY??? (Genesis 23) is about the death of Abraham’s wife Sarah. It tells when and where she died, and where she was buried, as was the case with other women in the Bible, yet not one word of a single thing about Mary dying, ascending into heaven, or anything about what happened to Mary after Jesus died, except that He gave her to John to be John’s mother. Where do Catholics get the audacity to say Mary ascended into heaven? The Bible is more than a thousand pages long. It tells us everything God wanted us to know. If something as supernatural as Mary ascending live into heaven was a fact, the Bible would surely have told us so, but not a word about her after Jesus died.

    1. There is great theological significance anytime Jesus addresses someone as “Woman”. It definitely was not one of annoyance, as you presume. Dig deeper. Read the Old Testament. If you believe Jesus did not sin and obeyed the commandments, would he have not ‘honored his father and his mother,’? Jesus loves all those who serve him and do his will. I cannot imagine anyone serving him more faithfully than his mother Mary did. I am sure we as humans cannot possibly love her more than Jesus did- and by honoring her we honor Jesus.

    1. Why do u contradict the Bible?

      because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

    2. why do u contradict the Bible?

      because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved

    3. Christians believe Christ Jesus saved all and triumphed over death, right?
      Catholics believe Christ Jesus saved all and triumphed over death, right?
      Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, right?
      Catholics believe in the Holy Trinity, right?
      Christians read out the Gospels (Jesus’s words) during services, right?
      Catholics read out the Gospels (Jesus’ words) during services, right?
      God does not put us into boxes/domination’s, we do that!
      Christians believe Mary gave birth to Jesus, right?
      Catholics believe Mary gave birth to Jesus, right?
      Therefore is Mary not the mother of Christ Jesus?
      Therefore, Christians and Catholics believe the same, so how can you say Catholics are not Christians!

  11. It seems odd to me that Mary is hardly mentioned in the New Testament epistles.

    Even Peter, supposedly the first Pope, doesn’t mention Mary in his two epistles.

    Doesn’t that seem strange to you?

    1. Hey Jim, who says the new testament doeesnt mention Mary, ofcourse it does read all the four gospels do, and you will see Mary being mentioned. She is the hand made of the lord. Pure at heart and spirit. Full of humility nad obedience. Do not be misled by the crowd. In The old testament not much as Jesus was not born yet, though she is mentioned in Genesis

    2. No it does not. Like Peter, Mary was a follower of Christ. She and St. Joseph were THE FIRST followers of Christ. As His parents and the first believers, the two of them sacrificed everything for Him. They knew Jesus more intimately and fully than any other human beings in all history.

  12. Tebogo a born again Christian

    I love this scripture from John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

    God love us so much that He gave us His only son. When we confess with our mouth and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord death shall no longer bind us. And the other scripture on John says 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

    He is the only way to our father. I was once a catholic until I met my Lord and savior, to be honest my life has changed for the better. I love the way God love us, I also began to forgive those who wronged me. I feel more alive than anything. I must it is very awesome and wonderful to know my true living God. I now do things in spirit and truth. I pray and worship only the father in heaven. I speak in tongues and no man has ever taught me this until I believed in Christ.

    I forgot to mention one thing, when I confessed with my mouth I received this powerful force from heaven. The power from heaven is God’s Holy Spirit.

    Another scripture from 1 Timothy 2:5 says

    For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

    From a believe of Christ, God loves you with all His heart and spirit. There is still time for you to repent and ask for forgiveness.

    God is mighty to save.

    With lots of Love chao

  13. REASONS WHY YOU MUST SERVE MARY
    40 Reasons to Serve Mary
    According to Richard of St. Laurent (d. c. 1250), De laudibus beatae Mariae virginis libri xii, lib. 2, cap. 1:

    1. Because the Son of God, whose every action is a lesson for Christians, honors and magnifies his mother, according to the commandment, Exodus 20:12: “Honor your father and mother.”

    2. Because the Holy Spirit commands that Mary be honored, Psalm 98:5: “Adore the footstool of his feet, because it is holy.”

    3. Because whatever reverence and honor is shown to the mother redounds wholly unto the son, and vice versa. Whence Ecclesiasticus 4:15: “Those who serve her serve the holy one,” that is, Christ, who is the holy of holies.

    4. Because through her and in her and out of her, the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is increased. Whence Psalm 47:2: “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.”

    5. Because through her and in her and with her and by her the world has, had and will have every good, that is, Christ, who is every good and the highest good and the one without whom there is no good, who alone is good, whence he says, Luke 18:19: “No one is good except God alone.”

    6. Because with Mary is found every good. Whence she says, Proverbs 8:35: “He who finds me, finds life and will receive salvation from the Lord.”

    7. Because she loves those who love her, nay, rather, she serves those who serve her. Whence she says, Proverbs 8:17: “I love those who love me.”

    8. Because it is the highest honor, the greatest glory and the greatest utility to serve Mary and to be one of her household (familia). For to serve her is to reign, just as Boethius says of the Lord.

    9. Because drawing water with the bucket of humble and devout prayer from the fountain of life that is by God, rather that is God himself, she sprinkles her servants with great drops, especially if they have suitable vessels [to catch the water in].

    10. Because she reconciles her servants and lovers most effectively with her angry Son: for she speaks peace to her people and over her saints [Psalm 84:9].

    11. Because it is her benignity that no one should be frightened to come to her.

    12. Because so great is her mercy that she drives no one away from her.

    13. Because she builds up her servants with gifts and charisms that they might become a worthy habitation for her Son and the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 14:1: “The wise woman builds her house,” that is, her household (familiam).

    14. Because she adorns her servants with manifold virtues like many clothes, as represented by Dorcas, who clothed the poor [Acts 9:39].

    15. Because she offers up the prayers and sacrifices of her servants, and especially those that are dedicated to her, in the sight of the divine majesty.

    16. Because just as the Son is the mediator between God and man, so she is our mediator with the Son, that is, through her mediation the Son comes to us and by way of her as mediator we come to the Son.

    17. Because she is our advocate with the Son, just as the Son is our advocate with the Father; rather, she brings our troubles and petitions to the Father and the Son.

    18. Because she represents those invoking her humbly with sweet words before her angry Son, at which the Son is easily pacified.

    19. Because for the salvation of her servants, she is able not only to supplicate her Son like the other saints, but also to command him with her maternal authority.

    20. Because she is the tree of life for all those who lay hold of her [Proverbs 3:18] with particular love and service.

    1. It’s only the Jesus Christ who you are talking about not Mary.Only Jesus deserves honors, praise and glory not Mary Because he is the creator of everything even Mary.

    2. You are brainwashed. You simply tossed aside the only true God, to give ur praise to a human like us who seemed Jesus salvation and found it(how weird how Mary needed salvation from her son huh?) Now you bring another book in which the bible clearly says in the last page of revelation not to add or remove.. Woman you need Jesus in ur life or you will not meet Mary. Mary is in the new jerusalem enjoying paradise, she is too busy having fun to hear u. Your saliva is wasted on empty words, words of sin. PRAISE THE LORD BECAUSE HE LIVES! YOU DONT NEED A CROSS TO BE REMINDED JESUS BECAUSE HE LIVES! A cross was a symbol of death to begin with. So good job catholics for always showing the instrument of death, thinking ur making Jesus proud.

  14. No Mary, no Jesus …know. Mary, know Jesus,.. Simple…. Alot of protestants think the Church doesn’t matter. It is the Teaching authority of the body of Christ. Not the bible. The bible is so great , for knowledge and wisdom…BUT THE BIBLE ITSELF QUOTES PAUL 1 Tim 3:15 ” the pillar and foundation of TRUTH is the CHURCH, THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD”… I ask many protestants this verse, and most have never heard of it. Why? Protestantism doesn’t want to admit this , that S why. If we truly want to be in the flock its the Catholic/ universal church that the Apostles belonged to. Jesus didn’t gather them together for a BBQ…..

  15. Peggy: The Catholic Bible did NOT come first. The New Testament in Greek came first. Jerome Translated the Greek Bible into vernacular Latin around 400. The “Catholic Bible” does tell us that Jesus is true God and true human. He alone according to NT writers is the one through whom we pray to the Father.

    1. Steve you are so wrong ….do your history homework. Sorry but there was no bible until St. Jerome and his scholars got down to business and went through over 300 plus books including the gospels if Pontius Pilate, Thomas, Peter, many many others….but it was up to the Holy Spirit to guide St. Jerome to filter out the books that were truly inspired words of God and those that weren’t quite. What we ended up with were 73 books….these were officially deemed canon, and the pope blessed this collection of old and new testaments and called it the HOLY BIBLE. THIS WAS THE FIRST time ever that these collections had any organization to them. Thanks to the Church that Jesus ordered put on earth to be a light on the hill for all to see. Jesus told the Apostles in matt. 28, go to the ends of the earth , TEACH them ALL that I have COMMANDED you, BAPTISING them in the name of (TRINITY)… Steve , then you say the Catholic bible doesn’t say Jesus is God?? What are you talking about? Nothing can be changed in scripture. It’s all there! However. Martin Luther added ALONE in his bible..as in faith ALONE…. CANT DO THAT… please explain sir….

      1. But yet the pope is changing the law on marriage,the catholic church is accepting homosexuals as their priests, etc…but you just stated that nothing could be changed…by what authority does the pope or Catholics have to change Gods laws?.. None..Daniel even tells us one will come seeking to change the laws ..scary, huh..even scarier that people wont pick up a Bible to make sure they are being given the truth, but choose to be led like sheep to the slaughter, having their conscience seared, choosing lies over the truth…

        1. Please prove that Pope or Catholic Church has changed marriage laws or any other moral issues. The protestants’ minded countries have legalized abortion and allowing euthanasia, etc. Do other denominations condemn such countries? Please speak out from what you know. Don’t jump straight to hypothetical stances or hearsay.

  16. Revelation 1:8“I am the Alpha and the Omega [the Beginning and the End],” says the Lord God, “Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all].”
    Philippians 2:10-11
    “that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” 
    (Isaiah 45:23 prophecy referring to Jesus).

  17. Good discussion page…but one straight question to catholic god almighty yeshuva said not to keep any kind of idols on earth and beneath the water then why they are keeping idols of pope ,joseph,Mary,Jesus,and some saints?in ten commandments second it clearly mention. Are they breaking the law of God?if one commandment is broken than its equal to deny the complete law.they pray or worship is secondary.one more question did Jesus ever mentioned or called Mary as his mother any where in bible?as Jesus started his preaching @ 30 years of age if its really a important Jesus would have tell directly to give importance to his mother.when Jesus himself not called Mary as his mother straight forward then why we are all discussing about this.and what Jesus said go outside every place,state,country all over the word to share the word he never told to sit in one church and preach those who only come to church right?in all these they are denaying gods word

    1. i would like appreciate your question mr
      king but you must remember we catholics dont worship mary but we give reverance that is simply above all the saints.

      I am posing you a question. will you not keep a photo of your father or mother who is no more (if only) in your house and ligt up a candle for them. dont you join your hands iin front of that.

      if you really love jesus you will know who mother mary is. she intercedes for us. beliefis our life.

      1. First, I will point out to you that you failed to show the entire Matthew 12:46 passage. And it is clear why you failed to show the rest, because it immediately refutes your position. The entire passage is as follows:

        While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
        But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

        Jesus demonstrates that he held Mary in no special regard and that all those who do the will of God are equal. This is also demonstrated in the following verse:

        There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
        Galatians 3:38

        You also omitted the following scripture, which even more soundly refutes your position:

        And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”
        But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
        Luke 11:27-28

        You also appear to be trying to claim Mary never had any other children by changing the meaning of the word brothers. This is clearly refuted since we know that James was Jesus’s brother and he also had other siblings. The Gospel of Mark 6:3 and the Gospel of Matthew 13:55-56 state that James, Joses (or Joseph), Judas, and Simon were the brothers of Jesus, the son of Mary. The same verses also mention unnamed sisters of Jesus. Certainly, Mary and Joseph would have had to disobey God to abstain from sexual relations with each other. For it is written:

        The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
        1 Corinthians 7:4-5

        You also fail to give evidence that Mary ascended into heaven as is believed by Catholics. There is no mention of Mary after the resurrection, not even of her death let alone any assumption. If indeed she was to be revered about all saints then why was such a significant event left out of scripture?

        In fact, no one who has died has gone to heaven as of yet. Jesus himself said the following:

        And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
        John 3:13

        This is affirmed in many scriptures such as the following:

        “As water evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried up, So man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no longer, He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep.
        Job 14:11-12

        And when Lazarus’s sister beseeched Jesus’s help, here is what Jesus said before he went to her.

        These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
        John 11:11

        And Paul says:

        But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
        1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

        And what point would there be of judgment day if one died and was already in heaven or hell? So that God can send them back to be judged only to return to heaven or hell a moment later?

        Also, if Peter was the first Pope as Catholics claim, then why didn’t Peter or any of the other apostles ever mention Mary or preach to anyone about giving her reverence or praying to her? Surely, if Peter was the first Pope then you should be following his example. As he never spoke of Mary nor gave her any special reverence, than neither should you. She is asleep in Christ as all other saints are and you cannot pray to her any more than you can pray to anyone else that has died.

        Note the following scripture that helps us to understand just who is in heaven. Jesus says of John the Baptist:

        “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
        Matthew 11:11

        So, how is this? It is because of the following:

        What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
        All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
        Psalm 8:4-9

        Because as man is lower than the angels, even the greatest among men is least in the kingdom of heaven. Only God and the angels are in heaven, in other words.

        You also make extra-Biblical claims about the meaning of the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary. Grace means unmerited favor. It is what God gives to all those who repent and trust in Jesus. To be full of Grace cannot in any way be translated as being sinless.

        Also, although you claim not to worship Mary, I ask you to be honest and think about this next question. If you saw a man kneeling before a statue of Buddha, with his hands clasped in prayer, looking up at this statue and praying to Buddha, would you consider that worship? If so, then you must realize this is exactly what is done in the Catholic church regarding Mary. See the following images and scroll down to pick out the ones with people kneeling and praying to statues of Mary.

        https://www.google.com/search?q=praying+to+mary+statue&biw=1364&bih=848&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CD0QsARqFQoTCK6wlZi2jskCFQnfYwodv20OxA

        That is worship and you cannot deny it.

        Finally, the Catholic church claims that Mary is a co-redeemer and intermediary. That is refuted by the following 2 scriptures:

        Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
        Acts 4:12

        For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
        1 Timothy 2:5

        Repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone. Forsake the worship of Mary or the Bible warns that you shall perish.

        One final question. If you are wrong, then you will most certainly perish. If you are somehow right, despite the scriptural evidence against it, no harm will come of you even if you fail to revere Mary and pray to her as you do now. Why err on the side of damnation? If you trust the scriptures I have put before you, you shall surely live.

        1. You are absolutely right brother because john 14:6 says Jesus is only the way, the truth and the life.No one comes to the father except through him.

        2. Yes I am a christian whos denomination is called Catholic.The difference between us and a majority of yous is we dont persecute people of different denominations. Im sure u have heard before that we dont worship Mary we honour and respect her so u cant stop attacking us for this.You do not need to worry about a true christians salvation cause then you are contradicting the bible.

          because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

          I forgive all the anti catholics and God Bless you

      2. Tebogo a born again Christian

        John Paul

        With love Romans 8:26-27New International Version (NIV) says
        In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

        Only the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

    2. Whatever we keep between God and us is an idol worship.
      The images in Catholic house is blessed.
      In the book of Numbers 21:9 Moses made bronze serpent. People who were bitten looked at the bronze serpent and they were healed. It doesn’t mean they were worshipping the snake and was healed.
      Ask the Holy Spirit to guide.
      Miracles happening through the image of Divine Mercy of the blood and water from the side of Jesus. Given to Sister. Faustina by Jesus. Are you not aware of the miracles happening through the open wounds of all saints like Padre Pio, Francis Xavier and many others.
      The Holy Bible is written through the power of Holy Spirit not through the humans intelligence. Peter was a fisherman, not educated. St Paul was Saul, who persecuted Christians. He was filled with Holy Spirit wrote book of Corinthian.
      The Lamb Supper written by Scott Hahn who was a protestant who sat in Catholic Church last bench, went to destroy Holy Mass in Catholic Church. No one understands The book of Revelation. Which is well explained by Scott Hahn. The mass as Heavenly on Earth. “THE LAMB SUPPER.” He converted to Catholic who came to destroy mass in Catholic Church.

      We must not live in our own understanding, humble ourselves and ask for the Holy Spirit to work in us.

      God bless all Christians who follows the word of God .

  18. May God help us to undstand his word rightly! people are mixing scriptures.The woman that God cursed to be enemies with snake wasn’t mary but it was Eve.

    1. That woman was NOT Eve. That promise was made AFTER Adam and Eve Sinned. As a promise that God would send a Savior. Eve, in saying “Yes” to the serpent, allowed Sin to Enter the world. That verse is about the Promise God made, that he would send Jesus to Die for our sins. The woman is Mary, who would give birth to Jesus. That verse comes AFTER their Sin, after they disobeyed God.

      1. No, it means Eve and then Eve’s offspring as in all mankind. To come to a conclusion that it’s Mary is ridiculous. That would be to say that enmity would only be between Mary’s children, which would include Jesus and his siblings. Makes no sense if you twist it for that purpose.

        And please read my other responses which clearly refute the Catholic position on Mary.

        1. I retract this. I see evidence whereby it may actually mean Mary. Yet, it still does not excuse Catholics from worshiping Mary. That the passage refers to her and is a prophecy of the savior does not somehow make her a god.

  19. Mary rejoiced and said, “my spirit rejoices in God my Savior(Jesus)”. Luke 1:47
    Mary knows that only Jesus could save her from the bondage of satan which is on all flesh, she confessed his name as her personal Savoir, Savior is the only one who saves from bondage of death.

    John says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an(one) advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2
    Jesus intercedes for every flesh, he interceded even for mary and for you and me too. He is the one and only righteous advocate and interceder for every flesh.

    “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Jesus Christ does not belong to him”. Romans 8:9, Everyone who posses Jesus spirit belongs to him, even mary belongs to Jesus, because those who belongs to Jesus surely has his spirit. Those who have spirit of Jesus they are called saints, Those who does not posses spirit of Jesus will not enter Heaven, since they have not become saint by possessing Jesus spirit.

    Mary received Spirit of Jesus on the day of Pentecost, becuase she knows her personal savior.

    “No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” John 3:13
    “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also”. John 14:3
    Please understand no one entered heaven except Jesus, he will come again and everyone will go at same time in heaven after he comes and takes us. Even mary does not enetered heaven, she is eagerly waiting for Jesus.

    “we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive in spirit, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18.
    All saints have not precede before us into heaven, because all are waiting for the coming of the Lord, even mary who is alive in spirit waiting for Jesus for his second coming. Everyone will enter heaven at the same time.

    “Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”. 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, Yes everyone will receive this when Jesus comes in his second coming, even our beloved mary have to receive this gift like everyone.

    “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35
    let the beloved Sisters in christ becomes mother(like mother mary) and sister for Jesus by following his words and brothers let us become brother for Jesus, he is in every relationship for us, he is also a good friend for us.

    Let us worship only God and Holy Spirit is the only one who interced for us, from within us. Those who have holy Spirit they are called Saints, Wish every saints. Halleluiah

  20. What I’ve always wanted explained to me (not that it matters a whole lot i am a christian), if all the teachings of the catholic church about Mary is true then why are there not references to what they say to do. What i mean is if we are to pray to Mary , to her or ask her to pray for us, why didn’t Jesus give an outline of how to do this. What are the criteria that lets you know whether you are to pray to Mary or straight to God, or to Jesus. If i were ever to believe that i should pray to her or ask her to pray for me I would definitely want some guidelines on how to make sure she hears me. I have enough proof that God hears me just fine and i really don’t need Mary.

    1. Randy:

      As Catholic Christians, and not “Protester” christians, we believe what Jesus said when he said the Church was the pillar and bulwark of the Truth. He left us a church and not the Bible. His Church had 59 Popes before it gave the Bible to the world. The Church taught about the reverence due to the first person to accept Jesus Christ, Mary and to the woman who nurtured him he staid with until the day he ascended into heaven. I think I will continue to believe the Church and not the 30,000 sects and millions of individuals that have been created by individual interpretation of the Bible.

      The Apostles in their writings said to hold fast the to the Written words and to Tradition (oral) that we taught you. All of the early Church fathers, some taught by the Apostles themselves believed or accepted what the Catholic Church taught because Jesus himself said it would be without error and would be here until the end of time. It is still here and 500 years from now after Non-Catholics continue to implode to where one day every one will believe something completely different because of Sola Scriptura , the Catholic Church will still be here because Jesus prayed that it would.

      Jesus did not tell the Apostles to write anything and he did not write anything. The Church is her wisdom through the holy spirited decided to declared the 27 books of the NT inspired and inerrant out of almost 300 was was debated on.

      As a convert and after reading the History of Christianity , I could not believe that everything I was taught by the Baptist preachers in the churches about Catholicism was a lie and if they knew that was not true , was blasphemy against the Church Jesus started. It was one thing to not to agree with the Church but another to lie about it and teach others to lie about it.

      To read History is to stop being Protestant.

      We hope and pray , just like Jesus did, the the Unity of his Church will one day happen again. It lasted for 1500 years until Martin Luther ( btw Luther completely endorsed the veneration of Mary) was enticed by something unknown to break away from the Church.

      We know that many Protestants , who have been saved by Baptism, and who do not die in a state of mortal sin will inherit the eternal life. But how much greater this life on earth would have been to be in complete fullness with Jesus Christ.

      Peace be with you.

      1. “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” Revelation 1:11 (NRSVCE).

        From the above scripture we can see seven churches. Churches are many, so there is no need for an argument that there is only one church. If u take Greek orthodox churches, they say they are more older than Roman Catholic church, ya its true. But, Syrian Orthodox Churches says, they are even more older than Greek orthodox churches, which is established by Peter. Its all true.

        But, what is church mean?
        Its not the buildings like Greek orthodox churches buildings, Syrian Orthodox Churches buildings, St.peter’s church building or Roman catholic churches buildings, Lutheran Churches buildings, Anglican churches buildings and Pentecostal churches buildings. Meaning and Etymology of the word Church is: its an assembly, gathering, ecclesiastical. Its not the building but grouping of people, that it means.

        Church is different from temple.

        We can gather in any place in the name of Jesus that is called church, even if two or more stands in street and pray in the name of Jesus that is also called Church.

        Many are fighting that I am this church, I am that church, but what Apostle Paul says about Divisions in the Church
        “Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas (Peter),” or “I belong to Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?. (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).

        This what happening today in the name of church denominations. Those who say that I am belong to that denomination or this denomination, they only belong to denominations but not to Jesus Christ. Let us leave the names of denominations, but we have to say that we are Christian or followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ cannot be divided by the name of denominations.

        “For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human?
        1 Corinthians 3:3-4

        “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11.

        So, The foundation is only Jesus Christ.

        The early churches was gathered in Jerusalem(started in Jerusalem first), Damascus(Syria, where Paul goes to trouble the Christians) & Antioch (which is also in Syria), Alexandria(Egypt), Turkey (which was Asia province, where Paul preached), Greek(where Paul preached), Cyprus island(where John saw Revelation) and Rome(where Paul and Peter preached lastly and died).

        Truth is true Christians are strangers for this world, they have headquarters in heaven but not in earth.

        “You are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. Matthew 23:8-10.

        But many christian religious leaders are against this above verse of Jesus.

        “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24.
        church which is wrongly meant by many christian people as a building is not required for our God to be worshiped. Those buildings cannot be called sacred place.

        Thus says the Lord:
        “Heaven is my throne
        and the earth is my footstool;
        what is the house that you would build for me,
        and what is my resting place?
        All these things my hand has made,
        and so all these things are mine,
        says the Lord.
        But this is the one to whom I will look,
        to the humble and contrite in spirit,
        who trembles at my word.
        Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who kills a human being;
        whoever sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
        whoever presents a grain offering, like one who offers swine’s blood;
        whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.
        These have chosen their own ways,
        and in their abominations they take delight. Isaiah 66:1-3

        from the above verse God does not requires man made things.

        Further scripture says:
        “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

        Each one is called living temple for God.

        “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

        2 Corinthians 6:14-18 says like this
        “The Temple of the Living God
        Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Beliar(satan)? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
        “I will live in them and walk among them,
        and I will be their God,
        and they shall be my people.
        Therefore come out from them(idol worshipers, immorality peoples),
        and be separate from them, says the Lord,
        and touch nothing unclean(idols);
        then I will welcome you,
        and I will be your father,
        and you shall be my sons and daughters,
        says the Lord Almighty.”

        Dear bothers and Sisters let us walk in Spirit and Truth, repenting from our ignorance and shall walk in the way to heaven through the word of god.

        1. Sorry APA the comment was for Randy . As for revelations it has many times been taking out of contents . There were many churches after the death of Christ . Apostolic .

      2. Man….you guys really know how to twist truth. When people pray in the bible, they pray to God, not Mary and Saints. Everyone that believes in Jesus as their savior and Lord are considered ‘saints’ and are considered ‘blessed’, it is not just mary and canonized saints, this is clear in the bible. What is not clear and you guys imply is that Mary was immaculately conceived too… this is not in the bible, nor is purgatory. I have a headache from all the false implying deception created by the RCC.

        The church is his body that can’t be destroyed by hell….he raised it 3 days later, he is speaking supernaturally when saying hell won’t prevail. Hell can prevail against earthly things, even kill us, but we will be raised imperishable and hail will never prevail in the end. 1 Corinthians 15:42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. The bible speaks of some earthly churches risking being spewed from Jesus’s mouth because they were lukewarm and such. clearly earthly churches can fail….

        Ephesians 1:23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

        Jesus can save anyone, anywhere without the false rituals of the RCC. The RCC says you HAVE TO BE A PART OF THEIR CHURCH TO BE SAVED….WHAT BLASPHEMY! The bible says it is thru Christ ALONE.

        The catholic church has ‘created’ thousands of ‘saints’ to pray to, created rituals that are said to be done for salvation when clearly the bible says it is a GIFT! and not earned least any should boast. We were created for good works but we are saved ONLY BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

        There used to be a ‘god of fertility’, now there is a ‘saint of fertility’, same old pagan practice wrapped up with a different word.

        WHO YOU PRAY TO SHOWS WHO YOU HAVE FAITH IN. “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come”. We start off praying to God and telling him he is HOLY and his will be done. Why would you go anywhere else than the creator of all things?

        THE RCC LEADS YOU DOWN COUNTLESS TRADITIONAL/RITUAL PATHS WHEN JESUS SAYS THERE IS 1 PATH.

        PURGATORY SAYS YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE FINISHED WORK OF THE CROSS. I would not put faith in purgatory…DO NOT BE DECEIVED. You can’t pray people out or buy them out….it is a false teaching they grasp with very little twisted backing.

        What else does Jesus need to do to earn prayers, adoration and thanksgiving in His name?
        What else must he suffer?
        Doesn’t it say he died once for all?
        Why do you continue to sacrifice him at the alter?
        He alone saves.

    2. Praying rosary is reading bible together with a prayer becos wat said in rosary is frm bible, for dos ask why should catholic ask mary to help dem beg God I see it very very good becos is like telling a mans of God to help u in prayer, if it means bad to do so, dat mean also bad to tell any one help u beg God someting. If u ask why not Jesus told us to pray rosary den i’m also asking you dat is’t not only (Our Father in heaven:)just read mtt 6 vs 9-13, and tell me why should u add other things?

    3. If we were to follow only what is explicitly contained in Scripture, Christianity would not be Catholic nor Protestant as it now exists. You will find no explicit command in Scripture that says, “pray to the Holy Spirit” or “worship the Holy Spirit.” Furthermore, there is no explicit example or portrayal of anyone praying to the Holy Spirit in all Scripture. We as Christians derive this from the implicit teachings on the Trinity, the explicit commands and examples of prayer to the Father, and the implicit teachings on the equality of Persons in God.

      Following your logic, since Jesus didn’t give us an outline, let alone command or example, to pray to the Holy Spirit then we don’t need to pray to Him to be a Christian? Recall that when Jesus was preaching the Gospel to the Jews, He stated that we should pray to the Father but omitted any mention of praying to the Holy Spirit (Matt 6:9; John 4:2-24). Needless to say, Christianity requires prayer to the Holy Spirit for salvation – although this doctrine is not explicit in Scripture.

      To complicate matters further, Scripture does give us an indication that prayer is received by those in heaven. In Revelation for example (8:4), we see that an angel offers up the prayers of the saints mixed with his “incense” to God. If we pause to reflect on this passage, many questions arise as to it’s meaning. We know that this revelation John sees is not a physical reality since angels for example do not have physical “hands” but are mere spirits (Hebrews 1:14). Hence, this passage is conveying a symbolic meaning. The text does not explain how the angel received these prayers. Did God receive these prayers and then give them to the angel only to have the angel return them to God after mixing them with his incense? This is a possibility albeit complicated. Or it could be, following a more simplistic view, that the angel received the prayers directly and then mixed in his own incense and then offered it to God. There is after all a biblical precedent for this view when Jacob praying on his death bed invokes the Father and the angel he wrestled with to bless his children (Genesis 48:16; Hosea 12:4). Additionally, in Revelation (1:4), John the Apostle invokes “grace and peace” from God and the seven ministering spirits before His throne. Note the similarity to Tobit 12:15 [a dueterocanonical Old Testament book] as the archangel identifies himself: “I am Raph′ael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One” (RSVCE).

      1. JT, your explanations are based in opinion and not rooted in the truth of scripture.

        You state “Needless to say, Christianity requires prayer to the Holy Spirit for salvation – although this doctrine is not explicit in Scripture.”

        That is incorrect. Praying to the Holy Spirit is not required for salvation. There is no Biblical text stating this and no basis for believing it. Jesus taught us to pray only to God the father and that we are to pray in Jesus’s name. The Holy Spirit is given to dwell in us, not to be prayed to. We have the Holy Spirit of God to guide us, but prayer is not necessary to receive salvation. Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ is what is required for salvation.

        Furthermore, you also state:

        “Recall that when Jesus was preaching the Gospel to the Jews, He stated that we should pray to the Father but omitted any mention of praying to the Holy Spirit (Matt 6:9; John 4:2-24). ”

        In effect you simply refuted your own position by proving that we are not to pray to the Holy Spirit. If it’s not in scripture then it isn’t truth. Since you point out just what scripture says about prayer, then we can be assured that that is what is required of us and not some belief based on men’s opinions.

        You also state:

        “To complicate matters further, Scripture does give us an indication that prayer is received by those in heaven. In Revelation for example (8:4), we see that an angel offers up the prayers of the saints mixed with his “incense” to God.”

        This only complicates things if you choose to interpret this in light of a pre-conceived belief and not on the basis of what it actually says. That saints pray to God and that their prayers are offered up does not in any way indicate that those saints who made those prayers are in heaven. I am a saint as is any other Christian here on earth. My prayers are certainly not from one dwelling in heaven. Indeed, all scripture indicates that no one but God (in 3 persons) and the angels are in heaven. If those who died were already in heaven or hell then there would be no purpose for a judgment day. See my earlier response where I show scripture conclusively proving that the dead in Christ are asleep and shall not rise until judgment day.

        Heaven, the current dwelling place of God, is not where Christians shall go after judgment day. A new earth shall be created and that is where we will live and God will dwell with us there. See Revelation for details on this.

    4. Read this then you will better understand it;

      John 2:3-10:
      “When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.’ So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water it now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.’”

  21. It seems your verses and explanations are found wanting. You may want to finish that verse about when His mother and brothers came to see Him. If I recall correctly, He replyed to that summons with, “who are My mother and brothers?”. Followed closely by “these are My mother and brothers” indicating the crowd. Also, you put too much in store by by Mary being “full of grace”. However, even that is questionable, because only Catholic Bibles say full of grace. KJV does not. Furthermore, Luke 2:51 says THEM not her. And dont capitalize the references to the woman giving birth to the Seed in Genesis. The emphasis is on the Seed who is Jesus, not Mary.

    1. @ Joel you need to know why the King James version is different from the Catholic bible. You better make a research on this before you start putting comments down..Cheers

    2. Concerning Matthew 12:46-50, see how an early Church Father, Saint Augustine, understood these words:

      “Stretching out his hand over his disciples, the Lord Christ declared: Here are my mother and my brothers; anyone who does the will of my Father who sent me is my brother and sister and my mother. I would urge you to ponder these words. Did the Virgin Mary, who believed by faith and conceived by faith, who was the chosen one from whom our Saviour was born among men, who was created by Christ before Christ was created in her – did she not do the will of the Father? Indeed the blessed Mary certainly did the Father’s will, and so it was for her a greater thing to have been Christ’s disciple than to have been his mother, and she was more blessed in her discipleship than in her motherhood. Hers was the happiness of first bearing in her womb him whom she would obey as her master.

      Now listen and see if the words of Scripture do not agree with what I have said. The Lord was passing by and crowds were following him. His miracles gave proof of divine power. and a woman cried out: Happy is the womb that bore you, blessed is that womb! But the Lord, not wishing people to seek happiness in a purely physical relationship, replied: More blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it. Mary heard God’s word and kept it, and so she is blessed. She kept God’s truth in her mind, a nobler thing than carrying his body in her womb. The truth and the body were both Christ: he was kept in Mary’s mind insofar as he is truth, he was carried in her womb insofar as he is man; but what is kept in the mind is of a higher order than what is carried in the womb.

      The Virgin Mary is both holy and blessed, and yet the Church is greater than she. Mary is a part of the Church, a member of the Church, a holy, an eminent – the most eminent – member, but still only a member of the entire body. The body undoubtedly is greater than she, one of its members. This body has the Lord for its head, and head and body together make up the whole Christ. In other words, our head is divine – our head is God.

      Now, beloved, give me your whole attention, for you also are members of Christ; you also are the body of Christ. Consider how you yourselves can be among those of whom the Lord said: Here are my mother and my brothers. Do you wonder how you can be the mother of Christ? He himself said: Whoever hears and fulfils the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and my sister and my mother. As for our being the brothers and sisters of Christ, we can understand this because although there is only one inheritance and Christ is the only Son, his mercy would not allow him to remain alone. It was his wish that we too should be heirs of the Father, and co-heirs with himself.

      Now having said that all of you are brothers of Christ, shall I not dare to call you his mother? Much less would I dare to deny his own words. Tell me how Mary became the mother of Christ, if it was not by giving birth to the members of Christ? You, to whom I am speaking, are the members of Christ. Of whom were you born? “Of Mother Church”, I hear the reply of your hearts. You became sons of this mother at your baptism, you came to birth then as members of Christ. Now you in your turn must draw to the font of baptism as many as you possibly can. You became sons when you were born there yourselves, and now by bringing others to birth in the same way, you have it in your power to become the mothers of Christ” (Sermo 25, 7-8:PL 46, 937-938). This was the common interpretation of the early Church. Mary was double blessed, first in God’s plan of election she was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, and secondly and most importantly because she was the preeminent member of the Church. At the moment that she responded with “be it done according to your word,” Mary simultaneously conceived Jesus in her womb physically as a mother and conceived Jesus in her heart spiritually as a believer. The context of Luke 2 demands that this be so because if Mary had not believed the will of the Father for her she would have said no to the angel.

    3. Concerning Luke 1:28, which reads: And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” The Greek word used in this passage is the same as Ephesians 1:6 however in a different form – both use charitoo. Note that traditional Catholic translations use “grace” in both instances. Where as Protestant translations use “favored” when applied to Mary (Luke 1:28) and graced when applied to us believers (Eph 1:6). This appears to be done only for doctrinal issues. In Luke, there is something greater happening than God just having a pleasing disposition towards Mary. It is the pivotal moment in the entire history of all creation – the Incarnation – the conception of the God Man. Since God is causing an action – the greatest of all divine mysteries He has ever done – the word “grace” here is completely justified. From this perspective, using “favored” is completely unwarranted.

      Paul’s entire thought of being “graced” through spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3-14) is entirely dependent on the Jesus as Christ (i.e. the Anointed of God that was born for man and died for man). Read Ephesians 1 again in light of Luke 1. Was not Mary blessed (Luke 1:28, 42; 45, 48; 11:27), predestined and chosen (Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14; Mic 5:2, 3; Jer 31:22), graced (Luke 1:28, 30), redeemed (Luke 1:47), had the mystery of the incarnation revealed (Luke 1:31), and believed in Him (Luke 1:45) and received the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35).

      The Holy Spirit used “charitoo” (Greek to transform by grace) in both passages to link and illuminate them. These are the only instances in the entire New Testament where this word is used. We should not take this lightly or interpret them in diametrical opposition simply because our religious tradition insists that Mary was not given a special and continuing role in the Body of Christ.

    4. Catholics have understood Luke 1:28 as an indication of Mary’s holiness specifically from the term “kecharitomene” used of Mary here. As Origen – a Second Century Christian writer – noted, this form is used only of Mary in the New Testament. The term is a perfect passive participle indicating that Mary had already been graced by God in the past and it’s effect continues into the present. In contrast, Ephesians uses “echaritosen” which is the indicative active aorist tense of “charitoo” which does not indicate any permanent results. Additionally, verbs ending in “oo” in Greek indicate a transformation. The Holy Spirit’s use of the term kecharitomene for Mary is very telling. Although it is true that this term cannot be used to say that Mary was engraced by God at the first moment of her conception, the term does reveal that Mary was already engraced prior to the angel’s visitation and prior to Mary’s assent to be the mother of the Messiah. However, we can surmise from other Scriptures that Mary was predestined and chosen prior to the foundation of the world to be the mother of His Son (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2, 3; Luke 1:27). Consequently, we know that God actively protected Mary from the first moment of her existence to ensure her vocation as the Mother of God-with-us (Matthew 1:23). I recommend further reading at the links below:

      http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/a116.htm
      http://bellarmineforum.xanga.com/661118502/question-69-%E2%80%93-what-is-the-greek-of-luke-128s-full-of-grace/

      Elsewhere in the Bible, there is further confirmation of Mary’s holiness. This comes from Genesis 3. There is much emphasis placed on who will be crushing the serpent’s head in this passage and the variant translations of this clause. However, often overlooked is the first clause which without variant states, “I will put enmity between you and the woman.” Note here that the Scriptures state that the serpent and the woman would be at war with each other. Furthermore, God reveals in this passage (“I will put”) that it is He that is placing each person in opposition to each other. Could Mary be said to be at war with the serpent if she ever fell under his dominion of sin? This same conflict is again seen in Revelation 12 where the conflict is further elaborated.

      Another important word used in Luke is the term “Hail.” It is a greeting of royalty as can be seen in the New Testament. It is used of Jesus when He was being mocked as King of the Jews by the soldiers (Matt 27:29; Mark 15:18; John 19:3). In the Old Testament, it was used of the rejoicing over the coming Messiah. Interestingly, scholars have noted a similarity between between Luke 1:28-32 and Zephaniah 3:14-17. The “daughter of Zion” of the Old Testament is fulfilled in Mary. That’s why when Mary is proclaiming that God had done great things for her she proclaims the things God has done for the people of Israel (Luke 1:46-55).

    5. But, remember the KJV came about 1300 Years AFTER the Catholic Bible. Go by the one that was first. it said FULL OF GRACE First

      1. Why do Catholics resort to idol worship , even if we accept that Mother Mary is holy and has to be respected. Every 5 th page in the Bible speaks extensively about Idol worship and how god hated it to the core not to mention the 10 commandments. For sure we do not know if the idol is the real face of Jesus or mother Mary . Is it right to worship idols

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