Kingdom Files:
Who Was Mary, Mother of Jesus?
Kingdom Files:
Who Was Mary, Mother of Jesus? Matt Koceich
A n Impr int of B ar bour P ublishing, Inc.
© 2018 by Matt Koceich Print ISBN 978-1-68322-631-4 eBook Editions: Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-68322-899-8 Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-68322-905-6 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher. Churches and other noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Barbour Publishing, provided that the text does not exceed 500 words or 5 percent of the entire book, whichever is less, and that the text is not material quoted from another publisher. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: “From Kingdom Files: Who Was Mary, Mother of Jesus?, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New I nternational Version®. niv®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Cover design by C. B. Canga Interior illustration by Patricia Yuste Published by Barbour Books, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc., 1810 Barbour Drive, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com Our mission is to inspire the world with the life-changing message of the Bible.
Printed in the United States of America. 06136 0718 CM
KF Dear Reading Detective, Welcome to Kingdom Files! You’re now a very important part of the Kingdom Files investigation—a series of really cool biographies all found in the Bible. Each case you investigate focuses on an important Bible character and is separated into three sections to make your time fun and interesting. First, you’ll find the Fact File, which contains key information about a specific Bible character whom God called to do big things for His kingdom. Next, you’ll read through an Action File that lays out Bible events showing the character in action. And finally, the Power File is where you’ll find valuable information and memory verses to help you see how God is working in your life too. Along the way, Clue Boxes will offer applications to help you keep track of your thoughts as you make your way through the files. You can also use these sections to record questions you might have along Mary’s journey. Write down any questions, and then ask your parents to get them involved in your quest. Before you begin, know this: not only did God have plans for the Bible characters you’ll read about in the Kingdom Files, but Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has big plans for you too! I pray that Kingdom Files: Who Was Mary, Mother of Jesus? helps you get a bigger picture of God, and that you will see just how much He loves you! Blessings, M.K.
F I L E FAC T
Dear Reading Detective, Welcome toName: Kingdom Files! You’re now a very important part of the MARY
Kingdom Files investigation—a series of really cool biographies all found Occupation: mother of Jesus in the Bible.From: Each case you investigate focuses on an important Bible Nazareth
character and will be separated into three sections to make your time Years Active: around 5 BC–AD 33
fun and interesting. First, you’ll find the Fact File, which contains key Kingdom Work: raised Jesus informationand aboutprotected a specific Bible whom God called to do big Himcharacter from Herod;
followed teachings; things for His kingdom.Jesus’ Next, you’ll read through an Action File that prayed God’sthe will to be done lays out Bible events for showing character in action. And finally, the
Power File is where you’ll find valuable information and memory verses to help you see how God is working in your life too. Along the way, Clue Boxes will offer application to help you keep track of your thoughts as you make your way through the fi les. You can also use these sections to record questions you might have along Jonah’s journey. Write any quesats:
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Jesu characters you’ll read about in the Kingdom Files, Jeremiah 29:11 says s too! I pray that Kingdom Files: Who Was Hiyou eyedfor Obplans that God has big ngs
teac Jonah? helps you gethia bigger picture of God and that you will see just ed with how much He Prayyou! loves
other believers for the Holy Spirit
Blessings, M.K.
Mini Timeline:
F I L E AC T I O N
1 Great News!
Mary played a very special part in God’s kingdom work. She was the young woman God chose to be the mother of Jesus! Her world was about to be turned upside down in a miraculous way. A long time before Mary became pregnant, the prophet Isaiah talked about this special moment in history. This moment was special because God had chosen to send His only Son, Jesus, to be born of a virgin. It was so special because He was sending His only Son to take on flesh and become the Savior of the world. The prophet said that Mary would give birth to a son and name him Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). 8
An angel named Gabriel visited Mar y in her
hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. This sma ll 9
town was twelve miles south of the Sea of Galilee, situated on a high hill far away from the main roads. Nazareth held to strong Jewish traditions. It had a tiny population of less than five hundred people. The Nazarenes were farmers who raised livestock and planted orchards. The people spoke a language called Aramaic. Gabriel said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). Mary was young (most likely not older than fifteen), and she was overwhelmed at the angel’s words. Mary didn’t understand the angel’s message. Out of all the girls in the world at that time, God chose her for a very unique role. The angel went on to comfort Mary and remind her that she didn’t need to be afraid. The angel said this about Jesus: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. . . . His kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32–33). Even though Mary didn’t understand everything that was happening, she told the angel that 10
she was the Lord’s servant. She said, “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). This gives us a good understanding of her relationship with God and her strong faith. Mary was pledged to wed a man named Joseph. Before they were actually married, a miracle happened and Mary was “found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18). This was a very stressful time for Mary, because in the culture of Mary’s day, people wouldn’t have understood what really happened. They would have judged her. Can you imagine all the stares and weird looks Mary must have received because of her pregnancy? And then when people would ask her to explain, Mary would begin her story with an angel appearing to her. That would surely have made people roll their eyes. Mary must have felt alone and afraid. Joseph didn’t want to bring any disgrace to Mary, so “he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19). That’s when an angel appeared to 11
Joseph in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. The angel went on to explain that something very miraculous had happened
and that the baby inside Mary’s belly was conceived from the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). The angel also told Joseph that they were to name the baby Jesus because He was going to save people from their sins! After this message from the angel, Joseph and Mary became husband and wife. At this time, Mary had a family member named Elizabeth who lived far away in a land called Judea. Mary left Nazareth and traveled the long 12
distance to Judea after receiving news from the angel about her pregnancy. This escape to the hills would at least help Mary endure the first few months of her pregnancy away from curious villagers who wouldn’t understand or believe her story. When Mary arrived at her relative’s house, she received
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some really amazing news. Elizabeth was also pregnant! Her child was John the Baptist, who would be the one to share the good news of Jesus, the Messiah. When Mary arrived at the door and greeted Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy! Elizabeth immediately understood what had happened to Mary. She said to her, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” (Luke 1:42). This helped Mary to know 14
even more that she really was being used by God in a special way. Remember that Mary was only a young teenager. Her faith and obedience to God are what helped her each step of the way along the path God had for her. Mary responded to Elizabeth by singing a song: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 15
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors. (Luke 1:46–55) This was a beautiful expression of Mary’s faith.
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Even though she was young, her heart was filled with joy because of who God is. Another neat thing about Mary’s song is that she was quoting the Psalms. It’s encouraging to see a girl so young who was very much connected to the Word of God. The Bible also shows that Jesus came from the line of King David, who wrote many of the psalms that Mary referred to in her song. David sang, “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name”
CLUES
(Psalm 103:1). Mary sang the same, also
Mary’s song reminds us to
saying that her soul
worthy. God gives us grace.
brings God glory (Luke 1:46) and that
always praise God, for He is He fills our hearts and keeps all His promises.
God’s name is holy (v. 49). And if you read Psalm 8, you will find David singing these words: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them?” (v. 4). In 17
Psalm 138, David again reflected on this same topic: “Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly� (v. 6). Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then returned home to Nazareth.
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2 O Holy Night Over two thousand years ago, when Mary was about to give birth to baby Jesus, an order was given saying that a census should be taken. A census is when the government counts the number of people living in certain areas. At this time in history, the Roman Empire was in control of all the lands that were around in the times of Jesus. The emperor was a man named Caesar Augustus. He had been in charge for twenty-five years, and plans for celebrations were under way. The order required everyone travel to their hometowns to register and pay taxes. Joseph was from Bethlehem, so he took Mary with him and left Nazareth. The journey for Mary and Joseph would have 19
been about eighty miles total. They most likely traveled to Jerusalem first and then made their way on to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph probably made the trek with a group of people who were also going to different towns to register for the census. The trip wasn’t easy for Mary since she was several months into her pregnancy (Luke 2:4–5). Also, their route would have taken them through a land 20
called Samaria. The Samaritans weren’t friends with the Jewish people, so this would have added stress to Mary’s already overwhelmed heart. The whole journey likely took them more than a week to complete, and Mary probably made the trip riding on the back of a donkey.
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Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem and tried to find room at an inn. Mary must have been very tired, but she soon heard that there was no
space available for them. Many people were traveling because of the census, and all the places to stay were already occupied. And because Joseph and Mary were poor, no accommodations were 22
made for them. Can you imagine? Mary was so close to having baby Jesus, but there was nowhere for her and Joseph to go. At some point, after hearing there wasn’t a room for them, Mary and Joseph were given permission to stay in a stable. This might have been a cave close to the inn where the other guests stayed. A stable is where cattle were kept. Even though we don’t know for sure what Mary was thinking, we can be certain that she was not very comfortable. Worn out from the pregnancy and
CLUES
the long, hard trip, Mary had to wonder
Everything about this holy
where God was in all
night seemed the opposite
this. She knew that
kings, should have entered
of how Jesus, the King of all
her baby was special
the world. But Mary chose
and that the Holy
side and hadn’t forgotten
Spirit was with her,
to believe God was on her about her and the baby.
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but her emotions in the moment had to be overwhelming. Still, Mary trusted God. She knew that God was in charge and that He wouldn’t let her down. As soon as Jesus was born, Mary wrapped Jesus in cloths and put Him down to sleep in a manger. The manger was a trough, likely carved
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from stone, from which the animals ate their food. While Mary and Joseph were huddled with the dirty animals in the stable, caring for baby Jesus, another group of people were taking care of important things. Some shepherds were living out in the nearby fields watching over all their flocks, keeping them safe from wild animals and thieves. Sometime during the night, “an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone
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