Jesus - Over the years the name of Jesus Christ has conjured up more emotion in people than any

other name. Some people use His name as a curse word, others in loving endearment, and others yet in a desperate lifeline. People have either hated Him or loved Him, many have given their very lives for Him. Wars have been fought over Him. Some people try to deny that He ever existed. Others say He was just a good teacher or a prophet. Others call Him their Savior - their all in all. For the Jews, Jesus arrived as the long awaited Messiah. But on His arrival many did not recognize Him. Others refused to accept Him because He did not fit their image as a King. Everywhere He went in His short life on earth, He made enemies and devoted friends. Men hated Him so deeply that they sought to end His life and did crucify Him. Amazingly as the Bible had predicted centuries before their occurrence, all of the events of His life from His lowly birth to death on a cross and then to His resurrection, did occur just as they had been predicted. In spite of this, many people still refused to believe in Christ's existence or reality. They refused to believe the words that He had spoken during His sojourn on earth. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ greatly impacted His devoted followers. At His death many went into hiding, fearing for their very lives. But at His resurrection, they finally figured out what He had been trying to tell them and became powerful witnesses to the things that He had said and done. They spoke of how He had changed their lives and the lives of others whom He had touched. The words of their testimony and the power of His name continued to change the lives of many others. Jesus so impacted some people that they changed from hating His followers to becoming one of them. Saul of Tarsus was an example of such a person. (Story found in Acts 9). Jesus continues to influence people in a like manner today. C. S. Lewis claimed to be an Agnostic before his total transformation to Christ and writing the book, Mere Christianity. Author, Lee Stroebel, claimed to set out to prove the assertions for Christ to be false prior to writing A Case For Christ. Many scientist have set out to prove the fallacy of creationism and other biblical theories only to find themselves turning to Christ instead as they found the Bible to be true and accepted Christ, not only as their Creator but as their Savior. The world today has embraced diversity and in so doing has attempted to educate others about their culture and religious beliefs with the exception of Christianity. Even though Christianity is the largest religion in the world, the mention of the name of Christ is forbidden in many schools and at national events. The entertainment industry has shunned any accurate religious portrayals, or the use of the name of Jesus in their productions in spite of the immense popularity of such pictures as The Passion of Christ. Religious persecution is steadily growing against Christianity. It seems that the more strongly the world protests hearing the name of Jesus, the more clearly it is shows He is alive and active on earth. He is a powerful force in the lives of His followers who wait in eager expectation for the fulfillment of the Bible prophecies that have been predicted about His Second Coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:10-11).

Source http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/history-of-jesus-christ-faq.htm

Mary was the wife of Joseph and the mother of Jesus Christ, who was conceived within her by the Holy Spirit when she was a virgin. She is often called the Virgin Mary, though never in Scripture are those two words put together as a proper name (Matt. 2:11; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27; Acts 1:14). Little is known of her personal history. Her genealogy is given in Luke 3 (see below). She was of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David (Psalm 132:11; Luke 1:32). She was connected by marriage with Elisabeth, who was of the lineage of Aaron (Luke 1:36). While she resided at Nazareth with her parents, before she became the wife of Joseph, the angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to be the mother of the promised Messiah (Luke 1:35). After this she went to visit her cousin Elisabeth, who was living with her husband Zacharias (probably at Juttah, Josh. 15:55; 21:16, in the neighborhood of Maon), at a considerable distance, about 100 miles, from Nazareth. Immediately on entering the house she was saluted by Elisabeth as the mother of her Lord, and then immediately gave her hymn of thanksgiving (Luke 1:46-56; compare 1 Sam. 2:1-10). After three months Mary returned to Nazareth to her own home. Joseph was supernaturally made aware (Matt. 1:18-25) of her condition, and took her to his own home. Soon after this the decree of Augustus (Luke 2:1) required that they should proceed to Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), some 80 or 90 miles from Nazareth; and while they were there they found shelter in the inn or khan provided for strangers (Luke 2:6,7). But as the inn was crowded, Mary had to retire to a place among the cattle, and there she brought forth her son, who was called Jesus (Matt. 1:21), because he was to save his people from their sins. This was followed by the presentation in the temple, the flight into Egypt, and their return in the following year and residence at Nazareth (Matt. 2). There for thirty years Mary, the wife of Joseph the carpenter, resides, filling her own humble sphere, and pondering over the strange things that had happened to her. During these years only one event in the history of Jesus is recorded, viz., his going up to Jerusalem when twelve years of age, and his being found among the doctors in the temple (Luke 2:41-52). Probably also during this period Joseph died, for he is not again mentioned. After the commencement of our Lords public ministry little notice is taken of Mary. She was present at the marriage in Cana. A year and a half after this we find her at Capernaum (Matt. 12:46,48,49), where Christ uttered the memorable words, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! The next time we find her is at the cross along with her sister Mary, and Mary Magdalene, and Salome, and other women (John 19:26). From that hour John took her to his own abode. She was with the little company in the upper room after the Ascension (Acts 1:14). From this time she wholly disappears from public notice. The time and manner of her death are unknown.
Source: http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/mary-motherofjesus.html