MARY VISITS ELISABETH

Luke 1:39-42 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Not only did God's angel, Gabriel, reveal to Mary the virgin conception of Jesus, he also told her that her cousin, Elisabeth, had conceived a son and was in the sixth month of her pregnancy. In was in those days that our lesson text begins. Upon hearing this news, Mary immediately went into the hill country to the city in which Elisabeth and Zacharias dwelt. This Judean city is not given, and much conjecture exists. Most bible scholars consider it to be Hebron. If this were true, the distance from Nazareth south to Hebron would have been 80 to 90 miles.

Arriving at the house of Zacharias, Mary entered and saluted (or greeted) Elisabeth. No doubt there was great affection between these cousins, as well as joy that they had conceived sons. At the same time as their greeting something miraculous happened. The movement of the babe in Elisabeth's womb seemed to be something that she had not previously experienced. Verse 44, which follows seems to indicate this: For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine (Elisabeth's) ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. At the same time this occurred the lesson text suggests that Elisabeth was also was filled with the Holy Ghost. This spiritual phenomenon that comes from God through His Holy Spirit cannot be explained with the wisdom of mankind. But by faith in our Heavenly Father, we believe and accept it as witnessed proof of God's unseen existence, and of eternal salvation, which He has promised through His Son, Christ Jesus.

Just as Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied (Luke 1:67), so Elisabeth received God's Holy Spirit, and by its inspiration, gave this prophecy to Mary: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Among all women of the world, Mary must have been the most favored by God to be granted the privilege of bearing the Messiah - the Son of God as the fruit of thy womb. Without it being told to her by Mary, the Holy Spirit of God descended upon Elisabeth, revealed to her the miraculous conception of our Lord and Savior, and gave her the words to speak of this prophetic blessing. Verse 43 tells us that Elisabeth was extremely humbled at conceiving John in her old age. Yet she was even more humbled realizing that her cousin, Mary, as a virgin, had miraculously conceived the promised Messiah, and, being favorably blessed by God, would become the mother of my Lord (Vs. 43)and come to visit her. Realizing Mary believed the message from God, Elisabeth further prophesied that Mary would perform or fulfill all that was told her from the Lord (Vs. 45) through His messenger Gabriel, and would conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus (Vs. 31).

In verses 46 through 55 we find Mary's prayerful celebration of praise for the great blessing of conceiving and bringing Jesus the Savior into the world. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. From the womb of a lowly handmaiden would be born the promised Messiah, and all generations would consider her as blessed by God. Therefore, she praised God for the great things that would be accomplished in His name. It will come to pass that, through the Son of God born to her, mercy would be extended to all that fear Him from generation to generation - that is, people of all generations that reverence Him by obedience to His gospel message will find God's mercy by the forgiveness of their sins and by receiving the hope of eternal salvation. Mary praises the all-powerful, omnipotence of God. He has demonstrated His strength by defeating the ambitious armies that strive for preeminence. He not only put down those that sought power, but He lifted up them of low degree, ...filled the hungry, ...and the rich He had sent empty away. Through His mercy, He lifted up Israel when they had fallen. He spoke directly to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever, promising a Savior that would deliver them from spiritual death, and give them the hope of eternal life for their souls. This ended Mary's solemn "song of praise." And Mary abode with her (Elisabeth) about three months, and returned to her own house.