May 1, 2014

Luke 1:39-56 (Mary's visit to Elizabeth)



Rachel Workman: A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” The verse that stands out to me here is You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said. How many blessing have I missed because I didn't believe God's promises? This is an area I really need to improve upon. If Mary can believe that she as a virgin would conceive and give birth to God's child then I can believe God's promises written in His word.
46 Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47     How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed. I love this. Lowly servant girl, see God don't use us according to our social standing or status. He uses us according to our hearts willingness.
49 For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me. And me, and I would do well to remember that.
50 He shows mercy from generation to generation
    to all who fear him.  Where would we be without God's mercy? I shudder to think.
51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
    He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has never stopped doing this.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
    and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has helped his servant Israel
    and remembered to be merciful. I love this verse. And he remembered to be merciful. Often times we wait on God for something and we think he's not doing anything. Maybe he's forgotten but the truth is God never forgets anything. If I'm made in his image it makes me wonder why he gave me such a forgetful mind ;)
55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and his children forever.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

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John Burnett:  Now [a]at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  What an amazing feeling that must have been. 43 And [b]how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?  We should feel the same way.  How has it happened to me that the King of kings and Lord of lords would come down of his thrown in Heaven, be born in a feed trough, live a sinless life, die a horrible death taking my punishment, and rising from the dead.  It could only be by his amazing grace. 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.  45 And blessed is she who [c]believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her [d]by the Lord.”
46 And Mary said:
“My soul [e]exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His [f]bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is [g]upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
51 “He has done [h]mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the [i]thoughts of their heart.
52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble. 
53 He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,
[j]In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his [k]descendants forever.”  What a beautiful praise Mary says here.  He exalts the humble and Mary was humble.  I don’t think she would approve of how the Roman Catholic Church has exalted her to the point that it takes the focus off of her son Jesus Christ.

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Krista Cook:  39 A few days later Mary hurried  - she wanted to hurry and share her news with Elizabeth and to also check on her, I would imagine.  To talk with someone who would understand what she was feeling. the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. - Elizabeth definitely could relate a little to what Mary was feeling - so much excitement and wonder!
42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” - what a greeting this was!
46 Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47     How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.
50 He shows mercy from generation to generation
    to all who fear him.
51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
    He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
    and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has helped his servant Israel
    and remembered to be merciful.
55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and his children forever.”
- what wonderful words of praise from Mary!  Do we praise Him like we should and like He deserves?
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home. - can you imagine the talking, laughing and sharing that must have went on for these 3 months between these 2 blessed women?

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Mike Grimm:  39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist, whose role is to be a forerunner and witness to Christ “leaps” in the womb of Elizabeth. Why? He is rejoicing at the coming of the Savior! In verse 44 we are told that the baby “leaped for joy” at “the sound of Mary’s greeting.”

42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise

46 Mary responded, This is often referred to as Mary’s Song

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47     How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.
50 He shows mercy from generation to generation
    to all who fear him.
51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
    He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
    and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has helped his servant Israel
    and remembered to be merciful.
55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and his children forever.”

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