Mary of Nazareth in the Scriptures

Luky;
A scrutiny of those references to Mary of Nazareth that exist in the Holy Scriptures provide an insight, not only into her personality, but even into the relationship she shared with her Son.

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, contains a description of the fall of Adam and Eve. Here also the first text applicable to Mary of Nazareth may be found. God warns the serpent, saying:
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he shall crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
(The Torah, the Old Testament,  Book of Genesis, Chapter 3, verse 15).

The simple brevity of this text does not conceal the depth of its meaning. Though at first sight the "woman" mentioned appears to be Eve, it is Jesus Christ, offspring of Mary, who will bruise the serpent's head by destruction of the serpent's power. Hence the passage is seen as forecasting the fact that Mary of Nazareth will step into the role of mother of humanity, a theme much employed in English poetry.

Like Genesis, the final book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation refers to Mary of Nazareth in the statement:

And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with
the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a
crown of twelve stars ... And being with child, she cried,
travailing in birth: and she was in pain to be delivered ...
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all
nations with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne.  ( New Testament, Book of Revelation Chapter 12, verses 1 and 2, and verse 5).

In Chapter 12 verse 9 there is a reference to

The great dragon ... that ancient serpent called the devil, or satan, who leads the whole world astray.

The depiction of satan in the guise of a dragon emphasises the antagonism that exists between satan and Mary of Nazareth, whose offspring he sought to destroy. That this animosity is not confined to Mary and her Son Jesus but includes all of humanity is asserted in these words;

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring - those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (New Testament, Book of Revelation Chapter 12, verse 17).