Amazing Visiting
Mary visited Elizabeth, and her visit was memorable. She went with a purpose. The idea is that Mary went with purpose and earnestness. She was not going on a casual, friendly visit. She had a very specific reason for going, a meaningful purpose. She was going so that she and Elizabeth could encourage and share with each other. They both had similar situations. God had acted upon both their bodies, performing a miracle for both.
Elizabeth’s womb was made alive for the son of Zacharias to be conceived, and Mary’s womb had conceived as a virgin. Mary in particular could be encouraged, for Elizabeth was already six months pregnant. The six months’ pregnancy was visible evidence that God had already acted upon her miraculously. It should be noted that Mary knew about Elizabeth’s miraculous conception, but Elizabeth did not know about Mary’s conception. Zacharias and Elizabeth lived in Juda. The town is unknown today.
Mary entered Elizabeth’s home and greeted her. It was at the very moment of Mary’s greeting that Elizabeth’s supernatural greeting began. Mary greeted Elizabeth and three unusual things immediately happened.
The babe leaped in Elizabeth’s womb. The baby had leaped or kicked before, but this leap was different from all the others. It was a sign to Elizabeth that the Babe within Mary was someone very, very special, someone who was about to be revealed to her under the filling (influence) of the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth was instantly “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and a very special spirit of prophecy was given her. The Holy Spirit seized her and led her to greet Mary as the mother of the Messiah, the coming Lord. Note: Elizabeth was living an obedient life before God. This was the reason God was able to use her and the Holy Spirit was able to infill her with His presence.
Elizabeth spoke in a loud voice. She was full of joy and exaltation for the Messiah, full of unusual emotions. She was under the influence and impulse of the Spirit of God. She was being guided to proclaim that the Baby of Mary was “the Lord” (Luke 1:43, 45).
There are three things that relate to Elizabeth’s proclaimation of Mary and her child.
1. The very first act toward Christ was a proclamation of praise. Elizabeth was the first person to know about the birth of Christ other than Mary, and God saw to it that her first act was to honor His Son. God would have His Son to be honored on earth even as He is honored in heaven.
2. Mary was blessed, but she was blessed because “the fruit of her womb” was great.
3. Elizabeth demonstrated a very sweet and humble spirit, a meekness and love that were so desperately needed by so many. She was older, and by being the wife of a priest she was recognized by the world as being of a higher social class and more honorable. Yet Mary, poor and unrecognized by the world, had been chosen by God to serve in a more special way. Elizabeth showed no envy or jealousy, no hurt or withdrawal. Contrariwise, she rejoiced over Mary’s call.
Note the great confession of Elizabeth. Elizabeth called Mary’s Baby, “my Lord.” In a moment of quickening power, the Holy Spirit revealed that the Babe was not only the promised Messiah, but He was the Son of the Highest, of God Himself (Luke 1:32, 35). There was no question that Elizabeth was using the term “Lord” in its highest sense. She was under the power of the Holy Spirit; therefore, she was confessing the truth under the influence of God. The truth was that the coming Child of Mary was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. She was also contrasting her son with the Son of Mary. Her own son was to be great, but the Son of Mary was greater. He was her Lord, the Lord God Himself, the Son of the Highest.
Note the clear sign given to Elizabeth. The sign was unmistakable. Upon hearing the greeting of Mary as she entered the door, Elizabeth’s heart leaped for joy and the babe in her womb leaped much more than usual. In Elizabeth’s words, “The babe leaped in my womb for joy [exultation].” God caused the babe to leap (the word is strong, indicating a struggling leap) as a sign of great joy in the presence of One so great that Elizabeth would call Him “my Lord.”
Elizabeth’s confession of her Lord was a very personal thing. She apparently never shared it with John. John did not know Jesus was the Messiah until Jesus’ baptism (John 1:31-34). John had to discover and confess Christ for himself. So do we all. It is a personal decision.
Elizabeth’s confession was bound to encourage Mary. #1- God sees to it that we are encouraged when we need encouragement. Mary needed assurance, so God took her where she could be assured. But note: she obeyed God. She went where God led her. It was while she was obeying that God was able to encourage her. #2- Elizabeth willingly humbled herself to help Mary. She was older and held a higher position as the wife of a priest, yet she denied and surrendered herself to push Mary and her child forward.
Elizabeth proclaimed that Mary’s faith would receive the promise. Note two significanct points. #1- There are two reasons why Mary has been blessed by believers of every generation. #2- The result of Mary believing the Word of God was that she was to see the performance of God’s promises, the things told her from the Lord.
3 comments:
Hi there, is this your 1000-word reflection assignment?
You have noted many things about Elizabeth and Mary that are important for us still today. One thing that you pointed out that I did not see before was the humility of Elizabeth who was, in human terms, in a position of greater honour than Mary. I think that the humility that Elizabeth showed is something that we all need to foster in the church. During the course and the readings I have been challenged to be more inclusive by listening to the marginal voices in the community. This was particularly so when I was reading Lucy Rose’s roundtable, conversational preaching, which calls for all voices to be listened to and valued (p.4).
The other thing about conversational preaching that it is inclusive and personal and therefore must listen to multiple voices that might not usually get a hearing. But, this type of preaching happens best when the preacher knows their congregation well. I think that this style would be harder to do if you or I were an unknown preacher in the denomination/congregation. You have also observed much about Luke 1:39-45. This reminds me that any questions that I have must come from my observations rather than starting with my own ideas (Paton). While Paton was talking about paintings I think that the same could be done of observations in the bible
Rose L, Sharing the word: Preaching in Roundtable Church, 1st ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.
Paton J, How to Look at a Painting. 1st ed, Wellington, New Zealand: Awa Press, 2005 p. 8-13, 106-11
Thank you for your comments opn Mary and Elizabeth. Thare are many good insights there as you tell the story of what the women did and how they felt. It is a good way to help people understand the text and to help then understand the Christian faith in their daily lives. God bless you.
dorothea
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