by Robert Schmid

Created on: December 13, 2010

Why the Virgin Mary is important to the New Testament

      The historical event of Mary, as that of all characters in the Bible, is not a stand-alone event that takes place in one instant of time, unrelated to all other events in scripture. Therefore, the story of the Virgin Mary is not only important to the New Testament, where she became the mother of the Son of God, but is part of a much larger, carefully laid plan by God Almighty, from the beginning in the Old Testament.

The full importance of Mary cannot be understood without an understanding of her involvement in the Old Testament. Obviously it is the widely known New Testament narrative of the Virgin Mary being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit of God, impregnating her and giving birth to the Son of God that makes Mary the third most important person/being, next to God the Father and the Son of God, in the New Testament.

Before we take a closer look at Mary and her involvement in the birth of Jesus, as given to us in the four gospels, let us consider a few prophecies in the Old Testament that are pertinent to the New Testament events. In Gen 3:15 God Almighty is speaking to the serpent (Satan) telling him that:

      “I will put enmity between you and the woman (Eve),  and between your seed and her seed; I (God) shall bruise your (Satan’s) head, and you (Satan) shall bruise his (the Messiahs) heel.”

This prophecy in the Old Testament was fulfilled in the New Testament when in the fullness of the time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman (Mary), born under the law, (Gal 4:4).   

The prophet Isaiah wrote:

      “For unto us a Child is born (through Mary); Unto us a Son is given (by God); And the government (the Kingdom of God) will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin (Mary) shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel – God with us” (Isa 7:14).

In the New Testament, beginning in Matthew, the genealogy of Jesus Christ is given back to Abraham. Verse 16 says:

      “And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”

Luke in his Gospel tells us:

      “In

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