The very moment she entered the house and gave a customary greeting, Elizabeth blessed Mary as the mother of her Lord. CHAPTER 22. While me cannot say that every miraculous life began with a miraculous birth, I think it is safe to say that every miraculous birth resulted in a miraculous life and ministry. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and . Colossians 4:10-11 and 4:14 show that he wasn't Jewish, because he was not included in the group who are of the circumcision. (N)52He has brought down rulers from their thronesbut has lifted up the humble. Lk 1:76 where John is described as prophet of the Most High. Most High is a title for God commonly used by Luke (Lk 1:35, 76; 6:35; 8:28; Acts 7:48; 16:17). Luke 1:39-56 - Scripture (NRSV Bible) Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. Luke does tell us that Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country (1:39), which would suggest that there was not sufficient time for any communication to have occurred. * [1:5766] The birth and circumcision of John above all emphasize Johns incorporation into the people of Israel by the sign of the covenant (Gn 17:112). There were now two witnesses. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. I believe that Elizabeth is a prototype of her son in this regard. The fact that the worship of these women was more restricted than that of men is no hindrance to their spiritual growth and development. 28And coming to her, he said, Hail, favored one! 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! . (7) Mary is a model disciple in that her praise was not only a personal expression of worship, but also was edifying to Elizabeth. After indicating his purpose for writing this gospel in verses 1-4, Luke immediately commenced his account by introducing Zacharias, the father-to-be of John the Baptist. 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth. 56Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. The scribes and Pharisees, however, seemed only to grasp a few of the particulars, but missed the plan. According to Luke, the virginal conception of Jesus takes place through the holy Spirit, the power of God, and therefore Jesus has a unique relationship to Yahweh: he is Son of God. The question which this raises is what is meant by the use of the a past tense. get to know the Bible better! This description is applied to God in Ps 18:3 and is here transferred to Jesus. 3 c Then Satan entered into Judas, * the one surnamed Iscariot, who was counted among the Twelve, d 4 and he went to the chief priests and temple guards to . We must first very candidly admit that we are not told how Elizabeth learned what she affirmed by divine inspiration. The Magnificat is based on the Song of Hannah (1 Sam 2.1-10), and other Old Testament passages that describe Gods favor toward Israel and especially toward the poor and lowly. The language of our praise should betray a continual soaking in the Scriptures and meditation on the terms and theology of the Bible. Whether or not Mary was present when John was born. 59 Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother spoke up. 62So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. Let us ponder them. 21 Charles H. Talbert, Reading Luke: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Third Gospel (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1982), p. 22. While this is true, this must be kept in its proper perspective. 76And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord* to prepare his ways,r, 77to give his people knowledge of salvation, 78because of the tender mercy of our Gods, by which the daybreak from on high* will visit ust. Even the church has made its concessions to the womens liberation movement. (H)From now on all generations will call me blessed,(I)49for the Mighty One has done great things(J) for meholy is his name. 56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. New International Version (NIV). . 29But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me holy is his name. Luke . 1 The whole assembly then rose, and they brought him before Pilate. 44For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Nevertheless, girls were married young in those days, and it is thus likely true that Mary was quite young. 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. The Lord is with you.'. Herod the Great, the son of the Idumean Antipater, was declared King of Judea by the Roman Senate in 40 B.C., but became the undisputed ruler of Palestine only in 37 B.C. I believe that the similarity of the Magnificat to Hannas praise has the effect of encouraging Elizabeth, whose personal praise focuses on Mary, and not on her own joy in having a son in her old age. Start your free trial today! Father Luis, as we affectionately know him, is a Catholic Diocesan Priest, from Tucuman, Argentina . ', 18 Zechariah said to the angel, 'How can I know this? 5 In the days of King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest called Zechariah who belonged to the Abijah section of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron. That which she speaks far surpasses what we are told Gabriel said to Zacharias. He is cast, moreover, in the role of the Old Testament fiery reformer, the prophet Elijah, who according to Mal 3:23 (Mal 4:5) is sent before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.. Men assumed the leadership roles, especially in spiritual matters. 24After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, 1 Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached their fulfilment among us, 2 as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3 I in my turn, after carefully going over the . His self-righteousness is evident in the psalm of chapter 2, which dwells on his dilemma, his danger, and his deliverance, but not on God. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today! * 63He asked for a tablet and wrote, John is his name, and all were amazed. 70 just as he proclaimed, by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times. We will explore the basis for Elizabeths blessing of Mary later, but for now let us simply observe that the arrival of Mary is the occasion for Elizabeths praise, not the soon arrival of John. Elizabeths words are not as reflective, but seem almost to explode from her lips unexpectedly. 43And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 6Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. It is largely, however, the composition of Luke who writes in imitation of Old Testament birth stories, combining historical and legendary details, literary ornamentation and interpretation of scripture, to answer in advance the question, Who is Jesus Christ? The focus of the narrative, therefore, is primarily christological. Q. Nevertheless, it is our conviction that the principles of the New Testament church are as relevant and binding today as they were in Pauls day. Gal. She must have been very devastated upon seeing Jesus died but she understood the truth. Announcement of the Birth of John. Mary seems immediately to respond to the praise of Elizabeth by offering her own praise to God. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. This is not the way men are saved, however. Thus there is a kind of criss-crossing effect in the praise of both women, for each expresses ones personal praise, but edifies the other. All rights reserved worldwide. And the angel left her. Mary does not in any way view herself as better or holier than anyone else. (8) Marys theology, as reflected in her Magnificat is vastly superior to that of the scribes and Pharisees, who would become the arch enemies of our Lord. 67Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: 68* Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.k, 69* He has raised up a horn for our salvation. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones. (L)51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;(M)he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. Gods compassion on her has revealed both His power and His holiness (Mighty One, holy is His name, v. 49). Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Jan 18th, 2023. Nevertheless, others have reacted to this error by failing to see this woman as a model disciple. Matthew 23). (5) Marys praise serves as an encouragement to Elizabeth, just as Elizabeths praise was an encouragement to her. In particular, instead of praising God for His mercy and compassion, as the psalmists and Mary do, Jonah protests against the grace and mercy of God in the final chapter of the book. They were not, however, the themes of the scribes and Pharisees. She is a woman who had a good grasp of what God was doing in history and in society. 49 for the Almighty has done great things for me. We can see that the verbs in these verses are past perfect. This principle may be stated in this way: A MIRACULOUS PERSON BEGINS WITH A MIRACULOUS BIRTH. So far as Lukes account informs us, Mary was only told that her elderly relative had conceived in her old age, which testified to the fact that nothing was impossible for God (Luke 1:36-37). Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry (Luke 6:20-21a; 24-25). She did not have any social standing due to her parentage or class, nor even the dignity of Elizabeth and Zacharias age. (2) Marys praise begins with her grateful response to the grace God has shown to her, a humble servant of the Lord. Catholic Online. (1) Mary is a model disciple in her faith in the word of God, and in her submission to the will of God. Luke-Acts is a two-part historical account traditionally ascribed to Luke, who was believed to be a follower of Paul.The author of Luke-Acts noted that there were many accounts in circulation at the time of his writing, saying that these were eye-witness testimonies. What is your spiritual relationship to God? 1. Even this is a manifestation of Gods grace, for at this early point in time such knowledge would only have caused Mary unnecessary and premature pain. We learn from the other gospel accounts that John was quick to acknowledge and proclaim the superiority of Christ (John 1:19-28), and thus to accept his secondary role as forerunner to the Messiah. 2just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,b For less than $5/mo. Mary dwells on the character of God, particularly His grace, which is bestowed on the humble and the oppressed. Mary: The Expecting Momma. 23Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. Mary understood the great themes of the Old Testament, such as Gods mercy and compassion, Gods concern for the poor and the helpless. 24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept to herself, saying, 25 'The Lord has done this for me, now that it has pleased him to take away the humiliation I suffered in public.'. Mary is not a model for disciples in being the mother of Messiah. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. We know now that this includes both His first and His second comings. Rather than having to try to explain to Elizabeth what the angel had said to her about the virgin birth of her son, Messiah, Mary learned that Elizabeth already knew. In other words, Marys praise does not focus on the immediate blessedness of her having this child, but on the ultimate outcome of the coming of Messiah. In the Jewish world of Luke's days, there was much that women couldn't do or weren't allowed to do. Mary, too, was a humble peasant girl. And so, too, will the greatness of Messiah and His ministry surpass that of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Messiah. All rights reserved. Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Luke 1:39-56. Because of this, the practices of our church stand out, and are considered very offensive to many women, and some men. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. She would, by the miraculous action of the Holy Spirit, become pregnant, and her holy child would be called the Son of God (v. 35). Some thoughts on today's scripture. Mary may have wondered how Elizabeth would respond to the news she had to share. While we are not specifically told that Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit when she spoke these words, we may surely assume so. 16 and he will bring back many of the Israelites to the Lord their God. For less than $5/mo. In contrast to the psalm of Jonah in Jonah chapter 2, which we have recently considered,18 the psalm of Mary is a magnificent masterpiece. Start for FREE. (:46-47) State of Rejoicing in God. 64 At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. Luke 1:56 Catholic Bible Here we see the meeting of two mothers, eager to support and help each other at a time of major change in their lives. It seems to me that this is a very significant fact. ii. We should strive to be students of Gods Word, meditating on its terms and theology, seeking to be obedient to its imperatives and its implications. 43 Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? Mary visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56) With the time drawing near when Elizabeth would give birth, Mary travelled south to visit her. (6) Mary is a model disciple in her evident reflection and meditation on the things of God. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Gospel, Luke 1:39-56 39 Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah.