Jesus the Son of Man · Chapter
Anna the Mother of Mary explained
Anna, the mother of Mary, recounts the birth of Jesus in Nazareth, the visit of the Persian Magi who brought gifts and recognized the divine in the child, and her memories of Jesus' childhood—his generosity, his unique behavior, and his pro
What happens
Anna, the mother of Mary, recounts the birth of Jesus in Nazareth, the visit of the Persian Magi who brought gifts and recognized the divine in the child, and her memories of Jesus' childhood—his generosity, his unique behavior, and his profound words. She expresses her longing for Jesus and her confusion at Mary's silence about her firstborn.
Themes in this chapter
Humanity and Divinity of Jesus
The Magi see the light of God in the infant's eyes, yet Anna describes Jesus' human childhood with its ordinary activities and unique behaviors.
Nature and the Divine
Anna's descriptions of Jesus' childhood—climbing trees, racing, and his connection to the sky—blend the natural world with a sense of the divine.
Characters to notice
- Jesus
The newborn and later child, described as beautiful, aloof, generous, and beloved by all in Nazareth.
- Mary
Anna's daughter, mother of Jesus, who seems full of wonder rather than joy, and remains silent about her firstborn.
- Anna
The narrator, mother of Mary, who welcomes the Magi and reflects on Jesus' childhood with deep affection and longing.
Key passages
“The child is not but a day old, yet we have seen the light of our God in His eyes and the smile of our God upon His mouth.”
Even though the child is only one day old, we have seen the divine light in his eyes and the divine smile on his lips.
The Magi recognize the divine nature of Jesus at his birth.
“Oftentimes He would take away our food to give to the passerby. And He would give other children the sweetmeat I had given Him, before He had tasted it with His own mouth.”
He often gave away our food to strangers and shared his sweets with other children before tasting them himself.
Anna recalls Jesus' selfless generosity as a child.