The Real Mary of The Bible
Part I - Mary's Marriage

The main purpose of this section is to recommend the people to look at the Holy Bible for more wisdom. This will help them to gather the knowledge necessary to help our brothers in any denomination that are looking toward a better personal relationship with God and Jesus; Any person understanding the seriousness of the Bible prophecies must remember that All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). This means that those prophets had a serious compromise with our Lord God. Everything was written for those with the desire to understand the truths of the Gospel, achieve a better understanding of God’s redemptive plan and visualize Jesus as the Creator of the Heavens and Earth (Hebrews 1:10). 

            To get a better understanding of the issues that we will be dealing with, read Matthew 12:46-50 & 13:53-58. The Reality behind this verses will be our Central or Core Issue to clarify.  The first question to ask is: Did Mary really had other sons and daughters after having Jesus? Lot of discussion has been made on this particular issue. All differences have been defended with Credos, Dogmas and traditions only. To answer this question we must read Matthew 13:55-56, where we see the names of the brothers and sisters of Jesus or sons and daughters of Mary. When you read these verses by the first time you easily see that Jesus had four brothers and few sisters. This is the Reality of the Bible: Mary had 4 sons with their names mentioned there and at least 3 daughters. Yes 3 daughters; ("All his sisters").There are a lot of  references of the same situation regarding the Brothers and Sisters of Jesus or the other sons of Mary. The evidence is at Matthew 12:46-50, Mark 3:31-35 & Luke 8:19-21,  Mark 6:1-6 and Luke 4:22. When you read this carefully you again open your eyes and see the Real family of Jesus. If you need more reference to the same issue read Matthew 27:55-56. When you read the verse 55 you will note that the people mentioned were following Jesus and serving him. This means that she was among a group of faithful people that put all their confidence at the Lamb of God. In verse 56 you note that Matthew mention the names of two sons of Mary. She was a woman of faith, a devoteee of Judaism; a married woman who followed the Law of God (Luke 23:55-56) and was always in disposition to serve Jesus as we see in Matthew 27:55-56.

 Only by reading this verses mentioned above you have to accept that: A) - Mary had another sons and daughters after having Jesus. B) - The Bible mentioned the name of the 4 brothers of Jesus. C) - And that it also mention at least three daughters. D) - Two of the Brothers of Jesus were the authors of two books of the Bible. This is plain and simple to understand. Unfortunately this is what you find in The Catholic Encyclopedia regarding this particular issue: "Finally, the "brothers of Jesus" are neither the sons of Mary, nor the brothers of Our Lord in the proper sense of the word, but they are His cousins or the more or less near relatives. [70] The Church insists that in His birth the Son of God did not lessen but consecrate the virginal integrity of His mother (Secret in Mass of Purification). The Fathers express themselves in similar language concerning this privilege of Mary." [71]

We have to see what they are trying to suggest by talking about her virginal integrity by reading this meaning: 

consecrate ,v.t. bless, sanctify, hallow;seal, dedicate, devotee.  See PIETY, REPUTE, CLERGY (The New AMERICAN ROGET'S COLLEGE THESAURUS)

We are not in opposition of the virginal birth of Mary as it is written in Matthew 1:18 and Luke 1:35, but this expressions are deviated to make an emphasis to what they teach, i.e. The Immaculate Conception. The Bible is making no emphasis on Mary's  purity or sainthood and it expressely says that they are literally her sons. They were a product of the marriage of Mary and Joseph, whereas Jesus was inserted in Mary's body by the work of the Holy Spirit. The explanations about this issue are very  delicate to analyze as we see this paragaphs from The Catholic Encyclopedia:

As to Mary's virginity after her childbirth, it is not denied by St. Matthew's expressions "before they came together" (1:18), "her firstborn son" (1:25), nor by the fact that the New Testament books repeatedly refer to the "brothers of Jesus". [66] The words "before they came together" mean probably, "before they lived in the same house", referring to the time when they were merely betrothed; but even if the words be understood of marital intercourse; they only state that the Incarnation took place before any such intercourse had intervened, without implying that it did occur after the Incarnation of the Son of God. [67]

The same must be said of the expression, "and he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son" (Matthew 1:25); the Evangelist tells us what did not happen before the birth of Jesus, without suggesting that it happened after his birth. [68] The name "firstborn" applies to Jesus whether his mother remained a virgin or gave birth to other children after Jesus; among the Jews it was a legal name [69], so that its occurrence in the Gospel cannot astonish us.[Emphasis Added] . "But the first born is the firstborn". It was applied in Exodus 34:19-20 as the first born. This specific verses were applied to the the animals as a calf and a LAMB. We must remember that when it is applied to Jesus it means that::

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."(Revelation 22:13)

This title is very explicit; the first means also The Creator; something these institution forget to emphasize because it specifically link the Sabbath Rest. This red emphasis inside the quotes are very particulars as they represent the  particular language of doubt, and ambiguous explanations they offer when explaining this issues. When you read the phrase: "without suggesting that it happened after his birth" you will see how they are putting ambiguity to the issue. The marriage between Mary and Joseph was a normal one and they had their marital intercourse as usual. There are no Bible verses that support any long lasting virginity. Jesus was the first son and there were others as we read the Holy Bible. 

When you read the first chapters of Matthew and Luke you read that before Joseph and Mary made any intimate bond she became pregnant. This means that Mary was virgin before having Jesus. This is what you read at Matthew 1:18. By reading the next verse you will see that she was married at the moment. This is a Biblical fact that no one can deny. This issue is very difficult to explain but only with sincerity it can be received by any reader or person looking for the Bible Truth. Mary was prepared by The Holy Spirit in order to receive Our Redeemer. This means that she was a mature faithful woman that keep the Commandments of God. We read that Mary was married with Joseph at the moment the Angel came with this glorious message. We can see Joseph and Mary as a married couple now. This means that God would not select any particular couple to take care of this responsibility. We now have to accept that Mary was an adult woman and not a child at the moment she conceived Jesus.

There are many verses talking about the brothers of Jesus and suggesting that they are sons of Mary too.In no case he denied Jesus brotherhood, but specified that any one can be called his mother or brother as a symbol of affection. We read this verses from Paul letters; But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.(Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.) (Galathians 1:19-20), Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? (1 corinthians 9:5) This verse has more contradictions to the Catholic teachings than any other mentioned here. This verse talks about the apostle's marital condition; "they were  married" (beware that the catholics state that they were prohibited to marriage as it was prophecied), mention the brothers of the Lord and include Cephas (Peter) "the so-called first pope" in this list of apostles.

 Something we not accept is the doctrine called Immaculate Conception, "Roman Catholic dogma holding that from the first instant of its creation, the soul of the Virgin Mary was free from original sin. In 1854 Pope Pius IX issued a solemn decree defining the Immaculate Conception for all Roman Catholics, but the doctrine has not been accepted by Protestants or by the Orthodox churches. In 1950 Pope Pius XII solemnly defined as an article of faith for all Roman Catholics the doctrine of the bodily assumption of Mary into heaven." (Mary (Virgin Mary); Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000)

We have to be very careful when we want to explain this particular issue to a person that have read it by a different perspective years after years and specifically when they are acepting the traditions of man as solemn decrees. First this "freedom from original sin" is anti-biblical as Jesus said that there are no saints, but his Father in heaven. This means also that Mary was not saint; as no one one earth is saint. This means also that no created human being can be called Holy Father as the popes are called, violating another basic teaching from Jesus himself and not from any prophet. 

[70] cf. Revue biblique, 1895, pp. 173-183
[71] St. Peter Chrysol., serm., CXLII, in Annunt. B.M. V., P.G., LII, 581; Hesych., hom. V de S. M. Deip., P.G., XCIII, 1461; St. Ildeph., de virgin. perpet. S.M., P.L., XCVI, 95; St. Bernard, de XII praer. B.V.M., 9, P.L., CLXXXIII, 434, etc.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XV
Copyright © 1912 by Robert Appleton Company
Online Edition Copyright © 1999 by Kevin Knight
Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor
Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York

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