A Layman's Commentary on the Gospel of Luke: Lesson I, Part 4 of 6

Verses 39-45. Mary visits Elisabeth.Verses 39,40. After the angel left, Mary must have thought a lot about the news concerning Elisabeth being already six months pregnant. Within a few days, she felt compelled to go and see her. We are later told that Mary returned to Nazareth just before John’s birth (verse 57), and stayed with Elisabeth three months.After her return, she would likely have been showing enough to be obviously with child. Joseph then began making plans to sequester her so she would not be publicly accused of infidelity and punished. During her stay with Elisabeth, God sent Gabriel to Joseph to explain the miraculous truth about Mary’s pregnancy (Matthew 1:13-25). Mary would not be prepared to share her sacred experience with anyone. She had no proof, and who would believe her?Elisabeth, on the other hand, would be the most understanding person in the world, being the only other person that also had been visited by the angel - and the promises made to her had miraculously already begun and she was in her sixth month. After a journey of about 4 days, Mary came to the home of Zacharias in the village of the hilly region south of Jerusalem.Verses 41,42. When Mary enters their home, she greets Elisabeth. At the sound of her voice, Elisabeth’s unborn child leaps for joy. This was an incomprehensible reaction except that it was the work of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit in John saluting the Son of God already conceived within Mary by the power of that same Spirit.This reaction within Elisabeth brings her to realize that the holy child was reacting to someone also divinely blessed by God. The Holy Spirit inspired her to recognize that Mary was the mother of the promised Messiah. She calls out excitedly, “Blessed art thou above all other women.”Elisabeth acknowledges also that, although conceived by the Holy Spirit, yet this child would be fully human, being born of the flesh and blood of Mary.Verses 43-45. Elisabeth also acknowledges that Mary’s honor greatly exceeds her own. In humility she expressed the great privilege that she has been blessed by this visit by the mother of her Lord. She also praised Mary for ready acceptance of the word of God, having faith that what was promised, He would most certainly deliver. Elisabeth experienced exceeding great joy and expressed it with sincere thanksgiving.Verses 46-56. Mary’s praise to the God.When Mary was called the mother of Elisabeth’s Lord, inspired by the Holy Spirit, she uttered a series of praises for what God was bringing to pass. Many of the verses are quotations from the Old Testament. It must be kept in mind that from their childhood, the devout Jews were taught the scriptures, especially Psalms, which were sung on special occasions and during worship, even in their homes.Mary’s praise has been described as a hymn. From the Vulgate translation in Latin, it has been called the “Magnificat”, and has been used as part of Christian worship from the earliest days.Verses 46-48. Mary begins by describing her personal feelings and experience, in an elegant and direct manner. She expresses her respectful gratitude for God’s choosing her for such a great blessing. Though an unimportant, humble woman from the small town of Nazareth, from henceforth she will be called blessed.Verses 49,50. Here Mary praised God’s might and holiness; He is The One who has done great things for her. His mercy has been shown continually from generation to generation on those that have respect and reverence, and honor Him by trying to follow His commandments.Verses 51-53. Here Mary extols the great principle of reversing the expectations of sinful men: the proud are scattered; princes have been taken from their thrones; on the opposite side He has lifted up those of low degree; filled the hungry, while the rich are sent away empty.Verses 54,55. He has kept mercy toward Israel, His servant, He promised Abraham from whose seed all the world would be blessed, through the coming of the Messiah. Mary speaks of these things as past, but that will continue until fulfilled completely.Verse 56. After spending 3 months with Zacharias and Elisabeth, she returned to Nazareth. We can only imagine the conversations of these two ladies, discussing the miraculous blessings they had both received from God, as well as their thoughts about the future and the great things that will be accomplished by their God-given children. Zacharias probably also communicated with them through writing.The fact that Mary leaves before the birth of John seems natural, because that event would involve a crowd of people and great celebrations and excitement. Only now were the Old Testament prophecies and revelations concerning God to be understood through the incarnation of Christ.Verses 57-66. The Birth of John the Baptist.The allotted time had passed since the angel had appeared to Zacharias in the temple to announce the coming blessing of a child to the childless elderly couple. A miracle only possible through the power of God now comes to fruition in the birth of their promised child.Verses 57-58. Many neighbors and kin people came together to rejoice in this extraordinary event.Verses 59-61. On the 8th day according to Ceremonial Law, the child was to be circumcised. Those that came thought that the child was to be named Zacharias after his father, as was a common custom among the Jews. Elisabeth had been told in writing from Zacharias that the child was to be called John, according to the word of the angel. Elisabeth firmly insists that his name was to be John. The crowd is surprised considering that no one in their family had that name.Verses 62,63. Elisabeth insists, so the crowd turns to Zacharias and makes questioning signs to him that he would clear up this apparent deviation from tradition. Zacharias asks for a tablet to write on and inscribes the word John there upon. “His name is John,” no question or point to argue. The crowd is surprised at their joint firmness in saying that his name is John.

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