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Ma'ry. (a tear). Mary of Cle'ophas. So in Authorized Version, but accurately "of Clopas," that is, the wife of Clopas (or Alphaeus). She is brought before us for the first time on the day of the crucifixion, standing by the cross. Joh_19:25. In the evening of the same day, we find her sitting desolate at the tomb with Mary Magdalene, Mat_27:61; Mar_15:47, and at the dawn of Easter morning, she was again there with sweet spices, which she had prepared on the Friday night, Mat_28:1; Mar_16:1; Luk_23:56, and was one of those who had "a vision of angels, which said that he was alive." Luk_24:23. She had four sons and at least three daughters. The names of the daughters are unknown to us; those of the sons are, James, Joses, Jude and Simon, two of whom became enrolled among the twelve apostles, see James the Less, and a third, see Simon, may have succeeded his brother in charge of the church of Jerusalem. By many, she is thought to have been the sister of the Virgin Mary and some think they are the same. 2. A Roman Christian who is greeted by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans, Rom_16:6, as having toiled hard for him.   Ma'ry, The Virgin. Mary, the Virgin, the mother of our Lord. There is no person perhaps in sacred or profane history around whom so many legends have been grouped as the Virgin Mary; and there are few whose authentic history is more concise. She was, like Joseph, of the tribe of Judah and of the lineage of David. Psa_132:11; Luk_1:32; Rom_1:3. She had a sister, named, like herself, Joh_19:25, and she was connected by marriage, Luk_1:36, with Elizabeth, who was of the tribe of Levi and of the lineage of Aaron. This is all that we know of her antecedents. She was betrothed to Joseph of Nazareth; but before her marriage, she became with child by the Holy Ghost, and became the mother of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Her history at this time, her residence at Bethlehem, flight to Egypt, and return to her early home at Nazareth, are well known. Four times only, does she appear after the commencement of Christ's ministry. These four occasions are -- 1. The marriage at Cana in Galilee took place in the three months which intervened between the baptism of Christ and the Passover of the year 27. Mary was present, and witnessed the first miracle performed by Christ, when he turned the water into wine. She had probably become a widow before this time. 2. Capernaum, Joh_2:12, and Nazareth, Mat_4:13; Mat_13:54; Mar_6:1, appear to have been the residence of Mary for a considerable period. The next time that she is brought before us, we find her at Capernaum, where she, with other relatives, had gone to inquire about the strange stories they had heard of her son Jesus. They sought an audience with our Lord, which was not granted, as he refused to admit any authority on the part of his relatives, or any privilege on account of their relationship. 3. The next scene in Mary's life brings us to the foot of the cross. With almost his last words, Christ commended his mother to the care of him who had borne the name of the disciple whom Jesus loved: "Woman, behold thy son." And from that hour, St. John assures us that he took her to his own abode. So far as Mary is portrayed to us in Scripture, she is, as we should have expected the most tender, the most faithful humble, patient and loving of women, but a woman still. 4. In the days succeeding the ascension of Christ, Mary met with the disciples in the upper room, Act_1:14, waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit with power.   Ma'ry, Sister of Laz'arus. She and her sister Martha appear in Luk_10:40, as receiving Christ in their house. Mary sat listening eagerly for every word that fell from the divine Teacher. She had chosen that good part, the "one thing needful." The same character shows itself in the history of Joh_11:1. Her grief was deeper, but less active. Her first thought, when she saw the Teacher in whose power and love she that trusted, was one of complaint. But the great joy and love, which her brother's return to life called up in her, poured themselves out in larger measure than had been seen before; the treasured alabaster box of ointment was brought forth at the final feast of Bethany. Joh_12:3.   Ma'ry, Mother of Mark. Col_4:10. Mary, mother of Mark, was sister to Barnabas. Act_4:36; Act_12:15. She was among the earliest disciples, and lived at Jerusalem. She gave up her house to be used as one of the chief places of meeting. The fact that Peter went to that house on his release from prison indicates that there was some special , Act_12:12, between them.