Luke | Chapter 1

The Gospel according to Luke 1:11-17
“The Heavenly Declaration”

• Introduction
• Vs. 11 The angel of the Lord
• Vs. 12-13 The reaction
• Vs. 14-17 A people prepared

Introduction

As noted last study we are examining the introduction of the forerunner of Christ in John the Baptist! In so doing the volume of the text is 20 verses (5-25) that can best be examined in three stanzas:

• Vs. 5-10 The divine dedication
• Vs. 11-17 The heavenly declaration
• Vs. 18-25 The ordinary and the extraordinary

Introduction

We will take up where we left off in verse 11 and the declaration! Our last study focused upon the timing of the event found in verse 5a “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea”! The conditions in which the declaration was made was at a time when:

• The king was a degenerate
• The temple was incomplete
• The priesthood was degraded
• The people were compromised

Yet with that said the purpose and importance of John’s coming can not be more clearly stated than what Luke declares in the last sentence of verse 17: To “make ready a people prepared for the Lord”. Even though the above four truths was the condition this did not hinder the work of the Lord nor did it delay its coronation! To give greater understanding of the personal environment in which John would come forth Luke let’s his readers know concerning his parents that they were according to verse 6 “were both righteous before God”. This “Righteousness before God” is verifiable in the text as we noted the fourfold character trait that is summarized by the statement that they “were both righteous before God”!

• Vs. 6 Blameless life: This doesn’t mean “sinless” instead it means that they sought to conform their lives around obedience to God’s Word.
• Vs. 8-9 Faithful service
• Vs. 11 There are three things that catch my attention in this verses
• Vs. 11 The angel of the Lord
• Vs. 13 Prayerful spirit:
• Vs. 64 Heartfelt praise: 

1. It is interesting to note that the angel of the Lord’s appearance happened according to verse 9-10 when Zacharias was praying and offering up the prayers of the people before the alter of incense. He would have been in the inner most part of the temple in a place called the court of the priests, alone. While the sacrifice was being made the people according to verse 10 were praying on the outside in the next court yard called the court of the Israelites. According to verse 21 the people waited for Zacharias and that is best understood as it was common at the evening sacrifice (which took place at 3 PM) for the priest to come to the rail that divided these two courtyards after the incense had been burned as assurance that the prayers of the people who had gathered had been lifted up before the Lord. The people marveled at Zacharias “lingered so long in the temple” and when he came out that he could not speak to them as was customary. As I consider the practical application of hearing from the Lord in prayer I can’t help but notice that in this case and in many others, answered prayer happens when God’s servants are obediently fulfilling their tasks. Just gazing out through the Bible and you will note that:

• Both Moses and David heard from the Lord while caring for sheep
• Gideon heard from the Lord while threshing wheat in a wine- vat
• Peter and his fishing partners heard from the Lord while they were busy mending netsCould it be that we aren’t hearing from the Lord because we aren’t busy serving the Lord? The reality is this: When we are busy doing what we are called to do it is easier for God to direct us to what He wants us to do! As already noted in the meaning behind the names of Zacharias, Elizabeth and John is: “God remembers His promise for He is gracious”! We have all noticed that it is far easier to steer a moving car when the engine is running then when it is NOT!

2. Next of note is the angel of the Lord! First it must be said that such angelic appearances, (contrary to what we are told today), were and are extremely rare. Luke does mention angels 23 times in his gospel and according to revelation 5:11 there is an innumerable amount of them but we are only given two of their names: Michael and Gabriel. In fact at this appearance there was not a living Jew who had ever seen an angel which may go along way in explaining Zacharias reaction in verse 12. Luke is very specific as to which side the angel of the Lord appeared saying that it was on the right side of the altar of incense. Now my first reaction to this revelation by Luke is “who cares”! But when reading our Bibles it is important to notice such details when they appears and in this case we note that the right side indicates a favorable side while the left side often indicates judgement or doom.

3. The last observation has to with how this visitation fit into the specific biblical prophecy. The prophetic calendar makes it abundantly clear that God had been planning a great mission into humanity and that John was His plan. God placed His hand upon him from before his birth and even within his mother’s womb, verse 41. To summarize these two prophets statements see God had impressed upon John the possibility and privilege of becoming His messenger to a lost and needy world: These three prophecies are found in two prophets in three locations:

• Isa. 40:3-5 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” This prophecy was 700 years before John’s birth was announced by Gabriel! So clearly God was well aware of the condition of the world and it had to be prepared for the one who was to prepare it for Jesus.

• Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant. In whom you

delight. Behold, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts.” These next two prophecies take place 400 years before this announcement by Gabriel. What makes this prophecy important beyond pointing to John the Baptist is that it mentions that his ministry of preparation of “making ready a people prepared for the Lord” is an identifier and definite proof as to the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ as it was Jehovah whose way was to be thus prepared, and John came to prepare then way of Jesus!

• Malachi 4:5-6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” You will immediately realize that Gabriel ended the message with hope from the prophet Malachi. In fact of you went into any Jewish synagogue today anywhere in the world and they were reading this passage they too will never end it with the words, “lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Instead they immediately stop as they want to end with words of hope and not a warning if they refuse the messenger. For 400 years there was no prophetic voice from God to His people and then when Gabriel comes with the first words to God’s people he comes with what God had said 400 years earlier.

Four years earlier God’s final wards were to priests who weren’t listening and a warning that since they had stoped listening to God He would oblige them by not talking until they were ready to listen. Again take note that the warning was because the priests weren’t willing to listen and now 400 years later Gabriel comes to a priest who was willing listen. To announce to this one listening priest that was well passed the age of having a child, had suffered through his countrymen thinking that he was cursed and struck down by God that to him and his wife they were not only going have a son but that his mission was to prepare the way for the Lord! Their boy’s mission was to turn a renegade people back to the God of their forefathers. This is why Gabriel ended where he did in Malachi’s prophecy as this was a heavenly declaration of hope!

These three prophecies remind us that God’s work is continuous even when there seems to be gaps. Those gaps are there for two reasons:

1. To remind us that God doesn’t work by almanacks, He isn’t bound to our times and seasons, His ways are far above ours!
2. To remind us that even tough His ways and plans cannot be thwarted they can by sinful hearts and disobedient people be delayed which God knows even if we don not! Fallen and fleshly humanity can low down God’s activity as it relates to His desire for us to have more of His love and goodness in our life but praise Him it cn not defeat His plans our purposes.

I have no doubt that during those 400 years there were many that thought; “God must have forgotten us”! God is NOT dead; His delays are Not denials, we are not forgotten! And that is emphasized by the fact that into that temple that day when finally there was ONE priest who would listen Gabriel is dispatched with a message hope!

Vs. 12-13 The reaction

Vs. 12-13 Before we are given the announcement to Zacharias we are first given the condition of his heart being twofold as we read that he was “troubled and fear fell upon him.” This is clarified by Gabriel’s verbal response to Zacharias. The first words recorded in 400 years to humanity who had stoped listening to God was “Do not be afraid”, Oh how amazing is that to all of our rebellious hearts! God had been waiting for a broken priest who had been longing for a son, had no doubt prayed earnestly for years and the only thing that broke the unanswered silence was the ridicule and persecution of his countrymen to unanswered prayer. To Jewish people at this time barrenness was a sign of disfavor and abandonment from God. God had used their situation to prepare their hearts for what God had wanted to reestablish for 400 years. Their situation and longing in their heart had much to do with the truth that they were “righteous before God”.

The 2nd thing I notice is Gabriel assurance that prayer had been heard and was now to be answered. For four hundred years there had

been silence but Gabriel announce a new dispensation of grace. Yet with that said the delays in prayer can cause us to question as Zacharias clearly did, so what is the benefit for such delays? I see three lessons when our prayers aren’t answered when we want them too:

1. First, that we may learn patience: God’s delays do not necessarily indicate refusal. Here we se that God’s postponement was for a far greater purpose that was to be a blessing for all of Israel.
2. Second, it appears to me that Zacharias and his wife may have ceased praying for a child as they no longer could see it’s answer as both were well advanced in years. God may have had to delay the answer to their prayer until they no longer could see its possibility in their strength. Quickly answered prayers can cause pride in our strong faith as it sees such things as a reward to our faith instead of a surrender to God’s faithfulness and not ours!
3. Third, the delay may have been to accomplish a greater purpose in the person praying than what their heart could have ever imagined. Many a time we pray fro what we believe is best but although grood not as great as what God granted because of delay. Let me state it this way: Which is best, Getting what our heart asks for or becoming more like the One we have asked from? If God’s delay accomplishes His purpose in making us more like Him them how wonderful if the work of delayed answers in prayers!Vs. 14-17 A people prepared

Vs. 14 First Gabriel announces the immediate blessings of their answered prayer which is “you will have joy and gladness” but beyond their response is a greater purpose in their son John which Gabriel says is “many will rejoice at his birth”. It is the second part of this that Gabriel will offer further clarification in verses 15-17.

Vs. 15-17 First their sons’ greatness won’y be assessed based upon human standards it will be measured instead based upon the “sight of the

Lord”. The world assess greatness on qualities that are outwardly visible when compared to others they are for lack of a better term mathematical, placed upon a graft that is subjective and compared to others subjectively. But God weighs what humanity can not and sees what lies in secret. He shall also be different than his contemporaries in that what causes others joy and fulfillment in strong drink will not be what will cause him joy. He will enjoy a fellowship and empowerment even in his mother’s womb. The results of his ministry will be more than a head turner it will be a heart turner! This reveals that the nation was in need of a person who could turn hearts around to the Lord! He will coming as a predecessor had in Elijah as a reformer but one that will outwardly see little success. All the more necessary that of the empowerment of the Spirit to cause the person possessed to be fearless in their calling.

The Gospel according to Luke

1:18-25
“The ordinary and the extraordinary”

• Introduction
• Vs. 18-20 The sound of silence
• Vs. 21-23 Speechless to the deaf
• Vs. 24-25 Hiding in God’s blessings

Introduction

• The introduction of John the Baptist is best examined in three stanzas two of which we have already looked at:
• Vs. 5-10 The divine dedication
• Vs. 11-17 The heavenly declaration There we noted the positive characteristics of Zacharias and Elisabeth as they were called “Righteousness before God” which was verifiable in the text as we noted the fourfold character trait that is summarized by the statements:

• Verse 6 Blameless life:
• Verses 8-9 Faithful service
• Verse 13 Prayerful spirit:
• Verse 64 Heartfelt praise:We also took note of the time of the visitation as it related to the nation as well as Zacharias. The nation was in a dark time spiritually and Zacharias was faithful in his ministry. This is contrasted next to the faithfulness of God who in spite of man’s rebellion and disobedience always fulfills His promises. That takes us to our last stanza in verses 18-25 where we will look at God’s ordinary work that humanity calls extraordinary!

Vs. 18-20 The sound of silence

Vs. 18 They had prayed for a son and Zacharias’ response proves that he had long ago given up hope. It is not my intention to find fault with this couple in fact I’m empathetic towards them as I have far to often reacted as Zacharias did. The fact is that the answer had not come, we aren’t given the length of time that it took to disintegrate their hope. I’m thankful for that as we would all be tempted to measure ourselves against this to gage our spiritual progression in maturity.

The answer had not come and it matters not that it was a day our 10,000 days only that as far as this couple was concerned the natural and ordinary of their lives made it no longer feasible to see their request fulfilled. Their lack of hope had silenced their prayers! It was the awful equation of time and their present circumstances that had added up to unbelief. Zacharias’ had fell into what is far to common to all of God’s children where we use unanswered prayers to interpret God’s ability to fulfill what we have asked for. He simply forgot that God can be depended on to hear the prayer of faith and that is noted in his words, “How shall I know this?” And then as too justify his doubt he adds words “For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” The practical implications of these words is the asking of a sign that he might believe what God’s messenger was telling him was true. If such a request had been made of even the most faithful of men we could understand the doubt but I must ask myself; “To whom have I made my request?” Is He not the One in whom has given us such great and precious promises? Is He not the One in whom He has given us His Word, a Word that because of Who He is He can not go back on?

We are so prone to fall into thinking that our requests are delivered to a mere man who has our limitations and must work in our natural conditions. Zacharias is like us as he needed some other sign in order to make God’s word more certain and believable. Zacharias was a priest he had to of known of Numbers 23:19 where we read, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor the son of man, that he should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Hope needed not have been lost due to time nor human limitations as all that is necessary for faith was settled in Whom he had made the request!

It is important that we realize that God was fully aware of this doubt and still dispatched His messenger to fulfill what long ago was no longer believed! What I realize in this passage by way of application is that “My greatest problem is NOT that God doesn’t hear my prayers but rather that I don’t believe the answer when it comes!” We also note that Gabriel came to Zacharias…the supernatural amongst the natural, the extraordinary among the ordinary. That was the source of Zacharias unbelief and right before him was proof that what is extraordinary and supernatural for humanity is only ordinary and natural for our Lord.

The history of the Bible is the extraordinary operating among the ordinary. Zacharias the priest would have known the story of his ancestors Abraham to whom had a son in Isaac well passed the time and how Abraham had laughed in joy and Sarah in doubt. I’m amazed at how patient God is when our unbelief laughs at Him who has promised, yet it does not detour His faithfulness.

Vs.19-20 Gabriel answers Zacharias doubt and request for a sign with the affirmation as to his identity! Gabriel could have said further, “Zacharias, you have failed to recognize who it is that has brought you this message. I am the angel who appeared to Daniel who unfolded the prophecy of the 70 weeks, who spoke of things to come…I stand in the presence of God.” Oh how many “glad tidings” we could have enjoyed had we simply trusted God words! The noise of the world combined with the doubt of our words offered in prayer have drowned out what could have been pure joy and celebration for God’s Word!

According to verse 20 it was because of this that Gabriel announces that Zacharias will be mute and according to verse 62 he was also deaf. This is understood by the use of the word signs were made to Zacharias and not words when he was questioned as to what to name the boy after Elizabeth had declared has name was to be John. There are some who think that this was punishment for doubting God’s word through Gabriel. I’m more inclined to think it a fulfillment of Zacharias request for a sign and in this case the “sign” was delivered in discipline.

For nine months Zacharias couldn’t hear or speak and the world was silent but his thoughts and heart were not. The very things that had been used to rob him have enjoying glad tidings were removed as to grant him the clarity of understanding that the God in whom he asks hears and answers! For nine months he could only talk too and hear God. If being plunged into a deeper place with God where you can only speak and hear God is a punishment then we all ought to prayer for such a punishment. I believe this is further brought out as we see that after the 9 months were over what do we see Zacharias do? Well he bursts forth into a praise that no doubt had been birthed during those months of “punishment”! The last words from the lips of Zacharias were “How shall I know?” And the first words nine months later were, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel”!

Vs. 21-23 Speechless to the deaf

Vs. 21-23 The people waited for Zacharias to come out of the court of the priests but his delay and his inability to speak caused them to realize that he had had a vision. Almost unnoticed in this passage is that we are told that Zacharias had to remain in service in the temple for another week as the service was proportioned for two weeks in Jerusalem. So in this state of only hearing and speaking with God Zacharias remained faithful to his service before the Lord and towards God’s people for the remainder of his time. I can’t help but see that in such a condition that Zacharias found himself in would have done three things to my heart:

1. It would have added to my spiritual maturity
2. It would have added to my scriptural knowledge
3. It would have added to my praise

How wonderful it is that what is often feared by our lack of faith is praised as it has blessed us and led us to less of us and more of God! Zacharias stayed faithful even knowing that Elizabeth didn’t yet know what they had prayed for was to be answered I a way that was not only going to be a blessing for them but also for the whole nation. The parallels of the condition of the nation and that of this righteous couple are unmistakable as the nations had been to busy to listen to God and so too this couple.

Vs. 24-25 Hiding in God’s blessings

Vs. 24-25 We close with Elizabeth’s hiding the blessing of answered prayer for the first five months. Again I do not fault her as I can only imagine the amount of spiritual warfare she must have been involved with. It has been many years that she had to endure the doubts and looks from people who knew that they had been praying for a child. I’m sure at first they heard words of encouragement from family and friends; words have prayers being offered added to prayer groups. I can imagine s time went by they would here more and more infrequently, “Any news?” Still more time and their was the gossip of they must have some unconfessed sin! And perhaps even more time and those who had called them friends stoped association with them all together!

Such is our journey of faith riddled among the church that such faith and assurances from God must often be hidden during our days of reproach among people! I conclude with this that we ought to not be such a people that those who have trusted have to hide our joy for fear of further rejection!

The Gospel according to Luke 1:26-29
The Annunciation: “Mary’s Surprise”

I. Introduction

II. Vs. 26-29 Mary’s Surprise

III. Vs. 30-35 Mary’s Security

IV. Vs. 36-38 Mary’s Surender

I. Introduction

We now move into what is commonly known as the “Annunciation”. I begin with this general observation: Within all of literature, both ancient and modern, I know of no story more beautiful in both its presentation and truth than this one. The world at the time of this story had been waiting many millenniums for the fulfillment of the promise of God made oddly enough to satan which is recorded in Genesis 3:15 where we read God promising “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed, He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

Of great interest is the fact that every other child born was distinctly the seed of man but this Child, this Son, was The Seed of distinctly the woman. The other gospel accounts record that Jesus was the Seed of Abraham and it is true as it was only through Jesus that all the world was to be blessed. Other gospel accounts speak that Jesus was the Son of David, and it is also equally true as it was only through Jesus that Israel will rule and be a blessing to the nations. The prophet Isaiah had been given the privilege of prophesying that this Seed would come through the absolute exclusivity of being the only child born through the seed of the woman and as such have no biological human father.

The “Virgin birth” of Jesus has long been a favorite excuse given by unbelievers for their disregard of the truths of the Bible. They say that to believe such a thing as this involves believing a biological impossibility. I find that rejection interesting in light of many of their company today as they insist that a biological man can become a biological woman, conceive, and give birth and yet such insistence is not viewed as a “biological impossibility,” and I might add must never be considered a divine miracle.

What makes this divine declaration even more amazing is that it bears no resemblance to the myths of heathen gods. In every instance these myths involve sordid stories of lewd, lustful acts of demonic beings’ lust for human flesh. In the story before us we have no such story instead it is a sweet, pure love story not of a sensual nature but of the love of God for fallen humanity. A story of the Holy Spirit of God producing by Divine power and creative energy the human body of His Son Jesus who was brought forth to be the Messiah, formed and placed inside the womb of a virgin named Mary.

When Jesus came into the world He was to be known, therefore, as the Son of God. He who had always been from eternity God the Son, became in God’s grace towards humanity, the Son of God, that He alone could be our mighty Kinsman-Redeemer. Because of the importance of this account from Luke’s it will be necessary to examine it from two different perspectives: Mary’s and the angel Gabriel’s. The reason for this may sound a bit odd and that is that we have to much familiarity with this story which causes us to miss what is actually in the text. As we examine this passage from Mary’s perspective it will have three movements:

1. Vs. 26-29 Mary’s Surprise

2. Vs. 30-35 Mary’s Security

3. Vs. 36-38 Mary’s Surender

Then in the following weeks we look at the same verses from Gabriel’s perspective which also have three movements:

1. Vs. 26-29 Gabriel’s approach
2. Vs. 30-34 Gabriel’s announcement
3. Vs. 35-38 Gabriel’s interpretation

II Vs. 26-29 Mary’s Surprise

Vs. 26-29 At first glance, and I might add unnoticeably, Luke gives us very specific information about the timing of this event. Luke says that it happened in the 6th month after the announcement of the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist which had been made to Zacharias. In these two verses that contain the setting of the story, two things stand out to me when I consider the original reader “Theophilus”.

A. Vs. 26-27 The first is the location of the visitation: Luke says that Gabriel was dispatched by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth. The place chosen by God was to be Galilee, not Judaea the home of the kings of the nation? And then specifically to the city of Nazareth and not Jerusalem the capital who God had chosen? And lastly Gabriel was sent to the home of the young maiden, Mary, instead of the temple? I find all of those interesting when I read Luke’s account and I believe he must have found these facts interesting as well. Luke, you will recall, was a Greek who had been educated as a Greek and like all Greeks was fascinated with the perfect personality of man. Where could such a perfect Man (Jesus) come from? Where was He brought forth and developed? Would he come from the heights of the mythical Greek gods on Mount Olympus? Luke considered the facts of the location:

• Judaea was chosen by God to be the center of the Land chosen for His people. But when Gabriel was sent to earth by God with such incredible news for the nation and humanity he was sent not to Judaea but instead to Galilee a place that was held in contempt for 100’s of years. Perhaps Luke we wouldn’t be as surprised if he were to read the prophecy of Isaiah in 9:1-2 where we read that “The gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, as when at first He lightly esteemed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterword more heavily oppressed her, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” Galilee had been over-run by Gentiles and was referred to by contempt by the rest of the nation. Herod had filled it with pagan temples. But even though

Judaea was the place of power and position, but God sent Gabriel to Galilee and NOT to Jerusalem!

• Jerusalem was what Jesus Himself describes in Matt 5:35 quoting Ps. 48:1-2 the “City of the great king”. Again Gabriel was sent to Nazareth and bypassed Jerusalem. Nazareth was 70 miles northeast of Jerusalem a half-way stop between Tyre and Sidon up on a hill above the great highway that passed underneath it. There on that roadway passed Roman soldiers, Greek merchants, and Jewish priests. The city held around 15,000 people. Its location made it a stopping place for all that traveled along the roadway beneath the city and because of this it was caravan of corruption, and it is fact that prompted Nathanael prior to him becoming a disciple to comment to Philip In John 1:46 “Can anything good came out of Nazareth?” Many have missunderstood that comment by Nathanael as a reflection of the city’s size, but other ancient documents show that it wasn’t the population that caused this statement but rather it was because it was full of corruption. The truth is Jesus, “who knew no sin” was from the wrong side of the tracks where all they knew was sin!

• The Temple was the center of the city, the center of the priority of God’s people, the worship and dwelling place of God. The last surprise is that in passing by Judaea and Jerusalem, Gabriel also passed over the temple! For the sake of our understanding today we would say that Gabriel passed over the church for a home! Something long ago promised was about to happen for all humanity upon the earth, the kind of things that Peter spoke about in 1 Peter 1:12 when he said that “Angels long to look into” these things and they must have watched in wonderment and awe as heavens messenger came to earth with the greatest message ever, but instead of what they expected they witnessed Gabriel head to earth into the right part of the planet but then observed God, change the directions of their expectations. Those very locations that God had instituted to be a light, had become worshipped for where they were instead of to Whom they were to reflect!

So God in His wisdom, sent Gabriel past the land of His original choice; He sent Gabriel away from the city that He loved and passed over the temple appointed for His praise. So much for locality! I must say that it has been my experience with God that He has often changed the direction of my expectations and I say this in full awareness that it is God who never changes. What this reveals to my dull mind and ignorant heart is that I must keep my eyes on the Author and Finisher of my faith and not upon the direction or expectation!

Now all three of those points on the location must have been of great interest to both Luke and Theophilus as that is not the case made in the myths of their upbringing as their fake deities dwelt on great majestic mountains. Jesus’ greatness was NOT the result of greatness of the location of His birth!

B. Vs. 28-29 The second surprise is the personalities of the visitation: Gabriel visited in that location two people: Mary and Joseph.

Though Joseph is mentioned in verse 27 we are told nothing about that visitation here and would need to go to Matthew 1:18-25 as well as Matthew 13:53-58. Since he is NOT the focus in this section of study I will only briefly give his chief characteristics as recorded in Matthew 1:18-25 where we are told that he was a “Just man”. Then in Matthew 13:53-58 we are told that when Jesus, during His ministry, came back to his hometown of Nazareth which then rejected His teaching on that day, we are told that they did so in part based upon His earthly father’s occupation as a carpenter. What this tells me is that with regards to Joseph his character we note him being righteous while his chosen profession was looked down upon. Both are an indication of the “poverty”: Of Joseph spirit; his poverty produced the character trait of being just. While his chosen trade of carpentry, apparently produced poverty financially which was criticized by his fellow citizens.

• Now we look at Luke’s primary focus Mary. What Luke records is a miracle as the first words used to describe her is “a virgin” and the word used for “virgin” is singular in usage and means just that, a “virgin”. When we look at the odds of one person fulfilling the over 300 prophecies of the first coming of the Messiah this one would be without comparison the hardest to fulfill. You will find the prophecy in Isa. 7:14 where Isaiah recorded the words of God saying, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God with us). ”

The next statement recorded for us by Luke is her legal status which is a “virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph”. Here we need to understand the Jewish marriage customs where this statement describes a woman who is legally engaged which lasted about a year and the couple while not together physically were none-the-less seen legally married in which it would take a divorce to separate the agreement of the contract of marriage. She was a virgin betrothed to Joseph in the part of the relationship where Joseph was preparing the home they would live in, and Mary was preparing to be married and separate from her parents to be united to Joseph. The couple would hardly see each other during this year and there would be no physical intimacy until after the ceremony in a year.

The second aspect that Luke spends the most amount of time on is Gabriel’s evaluation of Mary’s overall character and then Mary’s reaction to this. The simple words used by Luke at Gabriel’s appearance is interesting in verses 28-29, “And having come in….but when she saw him , she was troubled at his saying…” Angelic visitations are quite rare and as I pointed out when Zacharias had his encounter with Gabriel and his reaction was that “fear fell upon him”. And as pointed out Zacharias was priest while Mary was only around a 14-year-old virgin, yet we don’t see the same reaction. The word in Greek for “troubled” is an interesting one as in means agitated but not at Gabriel’s appearance but rather at his words to her. And that agitation has to do with his assessment of her character which was very complimentary as Gabriel says that she possesses a character of grace that is to say: a favor bestowed upon a person by God.

Here at around 14 years of age is a young woman who is living in the dark city of Nazareth, a city full of impurity and Mary in the midst of this poverty is living out her faith endued with grace. Mary was a young maiden of royal linage as she was from the house of David, like Joseph. She had royal blood in her veins, but what changed her character was not earthly blood but the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. She was living out her life in fellowship with the God of her fathers in quietness, peace, and purity. And Gabriel acknowledges that this was Heaven’s work as well as heaven’s estimation of her. And in the midst of the radiant beauty of Gabriel stood Mary, bestowed with grace and she is confused to the point of agitation by such a greeting.

What this reveals to us about her character is that she was unaware of it in her own life! And furthermore I believe that at Luke’s interview of Mary all those 40- 60 years later she is still totally unaware of this characteristic of grace upon her. Oh how I long for such a blessed ignorance of God’s work upon my heart and life and a greater awareness of my sin over that of others. Luke, the Greek, who makes a study of the beauty and development of human personality must have been amazed by her. Mary was the chosen of God for the fulfillment to be the Mother of the Messiah. A virgin, bestowed with grace who would fail, would struggle to apprehend the truth about her first-born Son until after His death and resurrection at Pentecost.

She like all before her since the fall of humanity was born a sinning soul, she needed redemption from the very One that would be in her own womb. Yes, she had a radiant grace as she walked in the shadows of fellowship with God. You don’t see Mary say, “Well, it’s about time, I’ve been expecting you!” And it was to this Mary that Gabriel came to bring this amazingly, glorious news that she had been selected as she was perfectly endowed with God’s grace and in her ignorance of this fact she proved it to be true! This is further demonstrated in Mary’s words in verse 34 and verse 38 where we read that she asked, “How can this be, since I do not know a man” and “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

When we were examining was Zacharias visitation by Gabriel we noted his lack of faith at his response in verse 18, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” It was unbelief that prompted Zacharias question as he said How shall I know this? But in the case of Mary she didn’t doubt the Lord, instead she recognized her ignorance and requested enlightenment at the process.

And it is this request that Gabriel answers when he says in verse 35 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” We will take a closer view of this statement next week but what we note is that Mary didn’t question the fact, instead Mary inquired of the method. She understood the normal human process in human sexuality and biology much better than many today, as her question is “How is it possible for a woman to bear a child, without the result of the action of a man?” It is here that we leave our story for now and will take it up from here as we shall see next week in Vs. 30-35 Mary’s Security then in Vs. 36-38 Mary’s Surender!

The Gospel according to Luke 1:26-29
The Annunciation: “Mary’s Security and Surender”

I. Introduction
II. Vs. 30-35 Mary’s Security III Vs. 36-38 Mary’s Surender

I. Introduction

Last week we began Luke’s examination of the “Annunciation” as he unveiled what caught his attention when he wrote this to Theophilus. You will recall that there were two things that Luke seems to emphasize:

• The location: I spent a great amount of time showing you what stood out was where God didn’t send him His messenger, Gabriel. Gabriel was not dispatched to Judaea, Jerusalem, and the temple; all of which would have made sense to those that were familiar with God’s choices in the past as He had direct each of those locations. Instead we noted that God directed Gabriel to Galilee of the Gentiles, to the corrupted city of Nazareth and lastly to a poor young virgin girl named Mary home. What aroused my attention is how God, changed the directions as well as their expectations! As I examine my life I see that has been frequently my experience with God. My conclusion is that He does this too remind me that my eyes are NOT to be upon the direction nor ANY expectation but only upon the Author and Finisher of my faith!
• The personalities: Our primary focus was that of the young virgin Mary although we made a brief stop in Matthew to note the poverty of Joseph: His “poverty of spirit” that caused the spiritual characteristic of being a just or righteousness man. Then that of “poverty of commerce” which seems to be due to his chosen profession of a carpenter which led his fellow citizens to look down upon his condition. Luke’s primary focus was Mary and her encounter and surprise at Gabriel’s visitation. Her surprise was NOT from the appearance of the Heavenly Messenger who was regularly in the presence of the Living God. Instead it was the “manner of his greeting”? When I hear that apart from reading the text I immediately think that Gabriel must have said something critical of her. As we know that wasn’t the case at all! Instead it was the opposite as Gabriel said that all of heavens estimation of her overall character, even at such a young age located in a wicked city, was that it was very obvious that she had responded to God’s grace in her life. And it was this greeting by Gabriel that the truthful estimation from Heaven’s Messenger troubled her which indicates that such an evaluation was true! In fact as I mentioned that be the time that Luke is told this story from Mary’s own lips, some 40 plus years later, she still doesn’t see that true evaluation!

With our recapping finished let’s now move on to Mary’s Security in verses 30-35 followed by Mary’s Surender in verses 36-38. Along the way we will also be looking at these same verses from Gabriel’s perspective which will also have three movements the first we covered last week was Gabriel’s approach in verses Vs. 26-29.

The last two are:

• Vs. 30-34 Gabriel’s announcement 

• Vs. 35-38 Gabriel’s interpretation

II. Vs. 30-35 Mary’s Security

Vs. 30 Last Sunday we briefly took up the comparison between Zacharias question where Gabriel noted his lack of faith in verse 18, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” The question is why was this unbelief that prompted Zacharias question “How shall I know this” while in the case of Mary, Gabriel sees it differently? Mary’s question is recognized for her ignorance and requested enlightenment at the process. Which is noted in Gabriel answer in verse 35 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” We noted that Mary didn’t question the fact, instead Mary inquired of the method! In this section we will note Mary’s Security as we will take a closer look at this statement of the Method of the Virgin’s conception form Gabriel’s explanation. Mary understood the normal human process of human sexuality and biology much better than many today, as her question is “How is it possible for a woman to bear a child, without the result of the action of a man?”

Now before we look at this, notice that prior to Gabriel’s explanation he first gives her something that she didn’t ask for but what might have been behind her question which has to do with her security. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” When at first Gabriel greeted her in verse 28 with the designation “highly favored one” in the Greek Luke notes that Gabriel did so with a different “preposition”.

Gabriel answers her concern with the truth that God was not merely conferring grace but rather that she was found with grace due to her location and proximity to that grace from God being and her continual fellowship with God through that bestowed grace as she was side by side with Him. She was chosen due to this fact…she had simply responded too God’s conferring grace and remained there! Because of this Gabriel’s words are NOT heavens estimation of her character alone but also a description of her position of importance in human history. In the uniqueness of fallen humanity though the entirety of the human race she stands alone in the roll God had designed for her.

Vs. 31 We also note “Gabriel’s announcement” as he announces a mystery “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus.” The mystery will be brought out by Mary’s question of method in verse 34. But what we have here is heavens declaration to Mary and as such becomes her Security! The security is easily noticed both in the language “you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son” as well as the giving of the name “and shall call His name Jesus”. This name today is filled with radiant glory as being the only name in heaven or earth given that humanity must confess a surrendered heart towards in order to be saved.

But this name was a common name of the day, there were probably many “Jesus” of the day. In fact it is believed that the notorious “Barabbas” mentioned in Matthew 27:16 possibly had the same name as the Messiah’s name as Barnabas is his surname “son of the father” and when you look at the dialog with Pilate to the crowd it appears that Pilate uses this to make a distinction between the two same first names. “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. But as Luke interviewed Mary I wonder what that name meant to her and Joseph as it was the same name given to him in a dream according to Matthew 1:21? I wonder if this was one of the things that according to Luke’s interview that “she kept and pondered in her heart” according 2:19.

The first time we are introduced to this name in the Bible it was the name of Moses successor. But that was NOT the name that his parents gave him which was Hoshea. That was his name translated “salvation” when he was born an Israelite under Egyptian slavery. Such a name was a prayer of hope from his parents that one day they would be freed. And this young man named “salvation”, (Hoshea), grew up to become Moses right- hand man and the one chosen by God to carry the work of bringing the nation into the land of promise. It was Moses who changed his name taking a part of the Divine name and combining it with his given name to mean Jehovah-is-salvation. And again in is Matthew 1:21 where we realize that this name given first to Hoshea by Moses was only a place holder as only our Lord is able to save people from their sins!

Vs. 32-33 Next Gabriel gives Mary the reason for the name and another reason for her security, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.” The greatness is declared by Gabriel on four different levels:

1. “He will be great”: The first and primary reason for Jesus’ greatness is that it is inherent! In other words His greatness is Who he is and has always been. Gabriel declares Him great before the incarnation before He has accomplished the reason that Gabriel was sent as He is God the Son.

2. “Will be called the Son of the Highest”: The second reason given by Gabriel for the declaration of Jesus greatness is Jesus’ relationship to the Father, Son of God. This speaks of the incarnation.

3. “The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David”: this has to do with Jesus’ mission which was to fulfill the four promises God made to David:

• David’s seed will be the Son of God.

• David’s seed will build a house for God’s name.

• David’s seed will reign forever from David’s throne in Jerusalem.

• David himself will witness these events.

4. “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

The final reason for Jesus’greatness is His royalty which Mary is told is eternal as it is not limited to location nor even to mortality as it shall never end!

Vs. 34 Mary’s challenge had nothing to do with the FACTS of the promise declared by Gabriel, instead it had to do with the METHOD, as she asks, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” I personally love Mary’s bluntness and we all ought to be thankful for it. I have seen some who wish to soften her question and mistranslate her response as, “How can this be, seeing that I am an UNMARRIED woman”. But that is not what she said, and we are all too aware of the biology and that the reality is biology doesn’t respect the marriage covenant! The reason for my thankfulness is that it eliminates the possibility of anything other than a divine miracle!

Vs. 35 All of this sets the response of “Gabriel’s Interpretation” and as I see this his response it answers two challenges with the virgin birth: Practical and Moral!

1. Practical: What I am referring to is “How was it accomplished practically?”

Here Gabriel gives Mary three specific things:

a. The Agent the “Holy Spirit”

b. The Method as “overshadowing her”

c. The Outcome, “the Holy One…the Son of God”

The question I believe that Mary asked was: “How can a child be born from just a woman without the equal accompaniment of a man?” Or “Can a woman get pregnant all by herself without the seed of a man?” The simple human biological answer to that is NO! Gabriel in his answer gives Mary how this will be accomplished as it will require “supernatural interference” by the “Holy Spirit” who will accomplish this by “overshadowing her” which will result in the child being, “the Holy One who is to be born…” and He will be known as “Son of God”! I don’t believe that there is much to investigate in the Agent “The Holy Spirit” but the method is quite interesting as the word “overshadow” is a Greek word that means to “envelope in darkness with the excess of light”.

Perhaps we might say, “Blinded by the light”. I am immediately reminded of the account in creation in Genesis 1:1-3 when we read that in the “Beginning” when God created the heavens and the earth, that the earth was without form and void; and “darkness” was on the face of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters when God said, “Let there be light” and there was light, and it was good. Jesus in John 8:12 calls Himself the “Light of the world”.

That is the answer of Gabriel to Mary and I’m content with the answer as my theology and philosophy with regards to God doesn’t require that my finite intellect will ever be sufficient to understand the infinite wisdom and methods of God apart from what He has given us in His Word! And if that is true in the small things how much more true is that in the incarnation of the Person of Jesus? My interpretation isn’t meant to replace or even explain the miraculous supernatural work of God, it is only what the Greek words say!

2. Moral: Though Mary didn’t raise this question as I don’t believe she understood it enough to raise it. The moral question looks like this:

How can a child born of just a sin-stained woman be able to escape the constant and continuous sinfulness of all of humanity? Wouldn’t this child, even born without the seed of a man, still inherit original sin and total depravity? How could this child escape the contamination and consequences of sin that has persisted through 100% of humanity?

I think it is wonderful, even glorious that Gabriel’s answer address these questions even though she didn’t ask them! Gabriel’s answer to the moral question is, “Therefore also, the Holy One who is born will be called the Son of God.” Gabriel’s answer to the moral questions is that by that by same act of the Holy Spirit utilizing the same “energy of light overshadowing darkness” that body describe in the quotation of Hebrews 12:5 where we read, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me”, that this body was “prepared for Jesus” by which He would be known as the Son of God would be free from contamination of the sin nature in the human nature as Gabriel announces that this child shall be Holy!

This was accomplished because the child was placed in the womb by the act of the Holy Spirit and because of this same act of God the child will be free from contamination! The truth of the virgin Birth and the “Immaculate conception” was declared by Gabriel. God is not hindered or limited by the ordinary, He can and does only wondrous things and because of this He alone does the extraordinary.

III. Vs. 36-38 Mary’s Surender

Vs. 36-37 Gabriel’s answer gave her an illustration in her cousin Elizabeth, which invited her investigation! God is never imprisoned within that which humanity labels impossible or natural as God acts in accordance with His nature and plans all for His glory and purposes. Because of this, God acts in a way that causes humanity to describe the work of God, in his arrogance, as “supernatural” when in reality it is only “supernatural” when placed in the sphere of human limitation which humanity can only think and operate! Gabriel goes on to say, “For with God nothing will be impossible”. Or as some translations interprets this “For no word from God shall be void of power!”

Vs. 38 This leaves only Mary’s act of surrender and submission which must be interpreted in light of human wisdom with regards to the person of Jesus. She only held a naturalistic philosophy which could never have fully understood this truth! She does what we must, surrender to it and not try to place our obedience in human wisdom and intellect. Her reply says this, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” To deny the so called “supernatural” origin of Jesus, is to make Him only natural and in so doing imprisoned within the walls of our fallen humanities limitations. If Jesus is limited by fallen humanities knowledge of Him then He “cannot be” God the Son, Son of God, Lord, or Savior.

The reason people reject this story is discovered in their concept of God and of fallen humanity. God through Gabriel had revealed His mind and heart and she simply, heroically accepted God at His word without hesitation or rebellion and in so doing she become an example to us all and the opposite of the first woman, Eve. The only truly joyous life is one lived in subjection to the will of God even when we don’t fully understand it! And with Gabriel’s announcement, and interpretation we are simply told that he departed from Mary and left her to wait for the fulfillment of his words!

The Gospel according to Luke “Blessing’s symphonic paradox”

1:39-56

I. Introduction
II. Vs. 39-41 A need for a song of sympathy
III. Vs. 42-45 Elisabeth’s ode to motherhood
IV. Vs. 46-56 Mary’s song of what God has done

I. Introduction

Now we have the story of two mothers, cousins in fact, and their interaction. Luke records the time in human history where God shown light upon then world through the instrument of Motherhood. Men, we need to consider the reality that when God redeem humanity He chose a woman. He chose to exercise His creative power to usher in His victory through Motherhood. In the darkness of fallen humanity, in a minuet corner of the globe, God gained victory for humanity over the power of satan through a mother!

Our examination of this passage from verses 39-56 will have three parts two it:

1. Vs 39-41 Here we are introduced to the story
2. Vs. 42-45 The next part of our examination will be Elizabeth’s benediction and her ode to motherhood
3. Vs. 46-56 The last part of our study will be what is commonly referred to as the “Magnificat” or perhaps better the “The song of Mary”.

We will see Mary’s praise of what God has done and I remind you that we are examining this passage through the historical lens of Luke who was a Greek in every sense of that word. It is also important that we remember the context of this passage, Luke has told Theophilus that this was an orderly account of the events that came from eyewitness and ministers. While the story before us involves only two women the context comes from the fact that Luke wasn’t present when it happened. Furthermore, I’m reasonably certain that Elizabeth had long ago passed into the presence of the Lord. That means that this information came from Mary alone and the events that she told Luke about were at least forty years in the past.

II. Vs. 39-41 A need for a song of sympathy

Vs. 39-41 There are three aspects on this section of the story that fascinate me personally:

1. Vs. 39 First, there Luke’s statement that Mary’s departure from her home in Nazareth was made in “Haste”.
2. Vs. 40 Second, though not in the text, I’m interested in Joseph as he appears to know nothing of this until later.
3. Vs. 41 Finally, I’m curious of both Elizabeth response as well as Mary’s.

Vs. 39 So having said that lets begin our investigation: What necessitated Mary’s immediate hasty departure from her home to visit her much older cousin? The facts of the story is based upon verse 43 that Mary’s visit was as unexpected as her pregnancy, that means that her hasty departure was not a “planned visit”. Mary had just heard the greatest announcement, that she had been chosen by God to be the mother of the Messiah. She had received answers and promises from Gabriel of the certainty of what was going to happen by the power of God. She had surrendered her heart and will, by faith to God’s plan.

As true of those facts are they didn’t alter the reality that she was an unmarried woman who had never had an intimate relationship with a man. Even though Mary was living in regular connection to the grace of God the world around her wasn’t! How was she going to be able to explain her situation to those around her, family, friends, neighbors? She may very well have been known for her grace, purity, and gentleness but it’s been my experience that such a pedestal causes those who can’t make it to the first step to have only one purpose in life: “To knock the person off of the ledge they could never reach”!

I’m of the mindset that this is what motivated Mary’s immediate hasty departure! This may not have been Mary’s first experience of the cruelty of humanity, and it certainly wouldn’t be her last! In fact the virgin birth was something that she would have to carry with all the questions, suspicions, and whispers until after the resurrection. We must never forget that with this “wonderful blessing” from God came “unimaginable sufferings”! The first of these “unimaginable sufferings” started with innuendos that she could NEVER explain in any way in which people would believe her. I believe that is at least in part; the sword that would pierce Mary’s heart mentioned by Luke in 2:35 by Simeon in the temple at Jesus’ presentation!

I think that is what was behind Mary’s request of Jesus at the start of His earthly ministry in John 2:1-12 at the wedding in Cana. It is there at this wedding that when Mary informs her Son that the wedding party had ran out of wine. Jesus’ response makes it seem as though her simple request had much more behind it when He responded to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” For 30 years Mary had suffered in her “blessing” and wanted people to believe her, to recognize her blessing and her Son told her that this wouldn’t happened until the hour of His death! The mighty blessing of her virgin pregnancy was a secret that she couldn’t keep! She believed it but not many would and as she looked at her neighbors’ prying eyes she realized that they didn’t express praise nor prayer for her condition but instead were filled with whispers and suspicions. It is for this reason that she made haste out of her home in Nazareth to perhaps the only person who would understand the miraculous, Elizabeth.

The fact is: Mary fled suspicions for sympathy! Elizabeth who had been barren and well past the age of childbearing, advanced in age was now 6 months pregnant! She had no doubt heard her own whispers and now was hearing that God was doing a miraculous work on her behalf. You can’t blame Mary for wanting to be around such hope! It gives us something to ponder with regards to the blessings that God bestows doesn’t it? This blessing from God given to Mary would for a good portion of her life need “sympathy to support it”!

Vs. 40a Next, briefly, I want to take a diversion to look at Joseph, as his story also gives us important application. In verse 27 Luke gives us his only reference of him until the 2nd chapter. We would need to go to Matthew’s account to realize that Mary’s circumstances was not something that he was aware of immediately. In 1:18 Matthew records the timing of her pregnancy was after her betrothal before they had come together intimately. Then in the 19th verse we are told that Joseph was a just man and didn’t want to make a public example of her. This tells us that Joseph knew nothing of the story until that moment as he considered his options at hearing of her pregnancy. Joseph had two legal options:

A. Make a public example of her: Sense he was betrothed to Mary her pregnancy was seen as adultery. A “public example” by the laws of Moses was a possibility and that was stoning her to death so that she would fall face first into manure. Joseph decided not to do this! What this reveals is that Joseph had real feelings for her, I believe that he loved her, and her pregnancy broke his heart but didn’t lessen his love.
B. Put her away secretly: The legal option was a legal bill of divorce canceling the legal engagement of betrothal. Betrothal was a “legal bond” that kept the couple together as well as apart in intimacy until marriage a year later. The legal document couldn’t be broken accept for infidelity. Joseph didn’t want to drag her through the courts which would lead to her execution and instead he thought to choose a private divorcement that simply canceled his obligation to marry her. As a righteous man he couldn’t marry her and as a just man he couldn’t make a public example of her.
C. The third option was one that he never considered: It came only in a dream when an angel appeared to Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, for the Child conceived was of the Holy Spirit. Joseph is given what to name the Child and the prophetic fulfillment for this. And like Mary surrendered to the will of God. But in saying this, the obedience by Joseph placed him in suspicion and gossip as well. I’m certain that Joseph’s reputation was destroyed as well, as he would have been accused of having intercourse with Mary before it was acceptable. Again often the blessings of God come at a price that requires God’s grace to comfort His blessings!

Vs. 40b-41 Lastly, I’m curious of these two cousins’ response:

• Mary’ was stealthy, as she enters the house unnoticed and then surprisingly announces her arrival. Her departure from Nazareth was in secret and so was her arrival in Judah! She wanted to escape, the glances, the whisperings. But she fled to a priestly city in Judea where Zacharias and Elizabeth lived. The need for sympathy was greater than the rick of rejection!

• Elizabeth was surprised: She was not outside expecting Mary’ arrival, she was unaware of her “blessing” and suddenly she recognized Mary’ voice in the greeting then they were together face to face. And as Mary spoke Elizabeth tells of a spiritual affirmation as the baby John in her womb for 6 months leapt for joy! The Greek word for “joy” is “exaltation”! Oh, don’t miss this reaction as the unborn John jump inside the womb of his mother in praise!

Now Elizabeth recognized this reaction was different than just the baby moving in her womb that I’m certain that she had experienced before! In fact Luke records for us that Elizabeth recognized this as at that same moment she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Mary needed sympathy but received far more than what she needed as she received assurance from God: When God so blesses us He can encourage us!

III. Vs. 42-45 Elisabeth’s ode to motherhood

Vs. 42-45 Elizabeth, filled now with the Holy Spirit, is illuminated with understanding! There are several things I notice about this Ode to motherhood from Elizabeth:

• First, Luke tells us that Elizabeth spoke out with a loud voice.

In other words Mary remembers that Elizabeth’s ode was not a whisper or something that could have been misunderstood. It was announcement, a proclamation, which Mary had never forgotten. That tells me that under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Mary would need these words throughout the remainder of her life!

• Second, her blessings was NOT “ABOVE WOMEN” but rather “AMONG WOMEN”! The one word that stands out is “blessed” and it is defined as among and not above women. It is here that the world stands divided with regards to Mary, as they either want to deify her or demonize her and the Holy Spirit places it right; she is blessed among women, she is to be celebrated but NEVER worshipped.
• Third, her ode is NOT to Mary but to the Lord. Mary is recognized as her womb was God’s tabernacle, the temporary dwelling place of the Lord of Glory. Mary’ womb held the very One who held her life! Mary was blessed to be the mother of Elizabeth’s Lord! Mary’s greatness is only understood in the light of the Child she bore! All the blessing of Elizabeth was passed through her to the Son in her womb.
• The last thing that Elizabeth’s ode praises is for Mary’ faith to trust and surrender in obedience. Such an encouragement was well fitted to Mary’ need as she is encouraged in her obedience and not in her works. Here we see a great truth for us when we need sympathy for God’s bestowed blessings: There will never be a greater sympathy offered to us when we are suffering in our surrender than to remind us that obedience is our only true comfort! Those are the truths that we are to treasure up in our hearts!

IV. Vs. 46-56 Mary’s song of what God has done

Vs. 46-55 In looking at this song from Mary I see three stanzas in it, each in the context of what the incarnation and virgin birth means with regards to what God has done. Furthermore, I’m impressed with her knowledge of the psalms and as well as 1st and 2nd Samuel. Mary was very familiar with the Holy Scriptures of her people. Each of these three stanzas causes a revolution to those who receive this reality and surrender to the person in that womb:

• Vs. 46-49 What God has done for Mary:

Mary understood she was a sinner and like all of humanity need to trust in the Lord as her Savior. Mary understood that she needed to be saved and it was for this reason that she had been chosen, she too would need to trust in the One whom the Holy Spirit had placed in the womb! God had done this in spite of her lowly state. Thus, the greatness of her Lord is that He would save her and that not her greatness would. It is for this reason that we see in her song as a celebration of what God has done for her and not because of her! She is very aware that God was mighty for her and had no problem of singing that God had done great things for her! This causes “Moral revolution”! Notice in Mary’ song the reference to her low state. Her sole magnifies the Lord, she remembers her lowly state, her spirit rejoices in God her Savior who is in her womb! In verse 51 she will quote the first testament acknowledging the scattering of the proud in the imaginations of their hearts. The Christian is the person who is on the path to the death of pride and self-centeredness! When we set our life next to the life of Christ it tears away the pride of self from us. Jesus enables us to see ourselves and experience a personal moral revolution.

• Vs. 50-53 What God has done for humanity: Next Mary sings of what God has done for humanity. Mary included all of God’s people who fear Him from generation to generation. When we have experienced His mercy according to verse 50 as well as His help in verse 51. Mary mentions three specific groups to whom God has been merciful towards:

1. Vs. 51 The helpless: God has always extended mercy towards those that come to realize that they are “helpless”. Oh that we would come to this personal understanding quicker that we may experience God’s mercy!

2. Vs. 52 The humble: The nobodies are exalted while the proud are put down.

3. Vs. 53 The hungry: They are filled with good things while the rich are empty. Interesting that Mary doesn’t say that the poor will be rich!

The acceptance of this causes a “Social revolution” as it puts to end the world’s labels and prestige. We note that God works are contrary to the thoughts and ways of the world system! Gone is all that separates us from each other as we are all sinners saved by grace! Mary saw through her song that God was about to turn everything around, the weak would dethrone the mighty, the humble would scatter the proud and the hungry will be filled while the rich will be empty.

• Vs. 54-55 What God has done for Israel: The last thing that Mary praises God for is that, He has fulfilled the His promises He made to Israel! God had done so in spite of Israel’s failure; He was the Promise Keeper even though they had always been the promise breakers. As such this would cause a “Economic revolution” in each person in world of faith. As we will understand that we are our brothers’ keepers and that we have all been given gifts to bless others in need.

Vs. 56 Mary we are told stayed with Elizabeth right up to the time before John was to be born and then returned to Nazareth. By that time she was three months pregnant and there was no doubt of her condition. I’m sure that she was the object of gossip and ridicule and soon Joseph would be also. But for those three months these two Mothers-to-be remained in the joy of fellowship, praising God together for His blessings upon them. It was temporary but joyous and something that based upon Mary’s memory forty years later she still recalled with fondness and praise.