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Mary Visits Elizabeth
39A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40She went into Zechariah's home, where she greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. 42 Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:
God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. 43Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? 44As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. 45The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.
Mary's Song of Praise
46 Mary said:
With all my heart
I praise the Lord,
47and I am glad
because of God my Savior.
48God cares for me,
his humble servant.
From now on,
all people will say
God has blessed me.
49God All-Powerful has done
great things for me,
and his name is holy.
50He always shows mercy
to everyone
who worships him.
51The Lord has used
his powerful arm
to scatter those
who are proud.
52 God drags strong rulers
from their thrones
and puts humble people
in places of power.
53God gives the hungry
good things to eat,
and sends the rich away
with nothing.
54God helps his servant Israel
and is always merciful
to his people.
55 The Lord made this promise
to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his family
forever!
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home.
Reflect
Luke’s narrative here is remarkably focussed. (I wonder what Mary’s parents thought? No mention. Did she travel the 100 kilometers to Elizabeth’s home on her own? No mention.) Other things are surprisingly emphasized (Mary’s greeting of Elizabeth). This is a clue as to what we need to pay attention to here.
No wonder Mary “hurried” (v 39). She had just received what must be the most stunning news in all history! What Luke has recorded is the meeting between two women, the confirmation of Mary’s nearly-incredible news from the angel, and her response to it. Intertwined in the telling is the relationship of John who would become “the Baptist” and Jesus. Gradually the picture is becoming clearer.
We were alerted in verse 15 that John “would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he was born,” and might have wondered what that meant. Here it is made clear. Elizabeth too is similarly “filled with the Spirit”, a phrase which in the Old Testament often referred to prophetic insight. Elizabeth grasps the whole import of the angel’s message to them both, and even worships Jesus as “my Lord” before he is born!
Mary’s song celebrates the great reversal of fortunes that God’s kingdom brings, and echoes many passages from the Old Testament prophets. Most of all it is similar to Hannah’s song when Samuel was born (1 Sam 2).
Blessed indeed is the person who believes that God will fulfill his promises!
Respond
Father, we are amazed at the story of these two women and their faith. Thank you for this revelation that you pay attention to humble people and scatter the proud. Thank you for remembering your promises. Help me to see my part in building your kingdom. Amen.
Annabel Robinson
Annabel was born in Kew, near London, England. She committed her life to Jesus Christ at a Scripture Union camp when she was 16, and immediately found joy and peace. At Oxford she was active in the Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, where she met her husband, Reid. They emigrated to Canada in 1965, where she taught Classics at the University of Regina until 2007. She has two children, Heather in Oslo and Alasdair in Calgary.