LUKE 1:39-45

Luke 1:39-45
If you’ve been coming to Alliance for any period of time, you know we are committed to expositional preaching.  That is, we study the Bible together, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book.  That allows us to do a couple of important things.  First, it allows us to study all the Bible, not just the popular or easy verses.  Second, it forces us to take passages in their context – looking at verses before and after to make sure our understanding of the text is correct.  Context is critical, even indispensable to a proper understanding of the Bible. 
Well, as you may know, the Gospel of Luke is the last and longest book of the NT we will have studied together – meaning we’ve covered the other 26 NT books – interestingly, in the last 26 years.  Don’t think for a minute we’ll get through Luke in a year. 
I say all that to say, I’ve personally never taught through the book of Luke before.  To be sure, I’ve taught some passages in Luke – especially in the first couple of chapters – during special times like Christmas.  For example, I’ve taught the annunciation before – that is, the text we looked at last week when Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she was going to have son – not just any son – the Son of God.  Great Christmas text.
There’s more, but we’ll stop with those.  The point is, Luke is an incredible author with intentional purposes.  Of course, his overall purpose, as stated, is so we can know with certainty the things we have been taught and believed.  You’re struggling in your Christian faith?  Read Luke – the life of Jesus again.  But he weaves together the birth narratives in a way that should amaze us – even overwhelm us.    
You see, again, I’ve taught a couple of these stories at Christmas, but missed the obvious connections that going verse by verse reveals.  And over the last couple of weeks, especially this week, I have further been overwhelmed by a couple of women – I’m supposed to be – an older barren woman and a younger virgin woman.  I’m supposed to be amazed at their faith, their trust, their willingness to submit to God even in the midst of some societally adverse circumstances.  Frankly, they’ve proven to be both encouraging and convicting.  So, let’s look at these two mothers – related by the way – and be overwhelmed by them and maybe even seek to be like them.  Hmm, maybe we Protestants have thought to little of the young virgin, Mary.
We’ll read the text in a moment.  But, till now, we’ve looked at these two women separately –now, they meet, and it is an incredible meeting.  Two, in that society, overlooked, marginalized, humble, poor – I say this gently, two inconspicuous, non-spectacular women.  You would never have known their names if it wasn’t for God’s gracious choice.  You see, they were used by God to bear the prophesied forerunner of the Messiah and the Messiah Himself.  Be amazed.
These are not likely the heroes we would have chosen.  Martin Luther asked the question, why not Caiaphas’ daughter in the hallowed high priestly precincts of Jerusalem to be the mother of Jesus?  She was well known – known to be beautiful and often opulently dressed – the daughter of wealth and religiosity.  She would have made a much better mother of either one of these boys, right?  Well, unless God’s purposes and grading scale are different than ours. 
Mary’s Greeting (39-40)Elizabeth’s Response (41-45)Mary’s Praise, known as the Magnificat next week (46-56)
Did you see it – their strength, their humility, their surrender, their faith?  It comes out clearly in the annunciation stories, and in Mary’s Magnificat – in other words, in context.  Let’s start with Mary’s Greeting in the first couple of verses.  Verse 39 begins, Now at this time – what time?  Gabriel has just announced to Mary, a virgin, that she will conceive and give birth to the promised Messiah.  He will be called the Son of the Most High, and He will sit forever on David’s throne.  His kingdom will never end.  A rather significant description of this son named Jesus to be born.  But Mary was stuck on, you will conceive.  Apparently, even though she was betrothed to Joseph and would soon be getting married, she seemed to understand this conception would take place immediately – before their marriage. 
Wait a minute, she says, how can this be, since I am a virgin?  Gabriel tells her, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Most High will overshadow you, for that reason the holy child will be called the Son of God.  Remember, hers was not a question of unbelief, it was question of wonder – how?  Remember also, she was a young girl, 13, 14 years of age.
Then Gabriel gives her a sign – she didn’t ask for one, he just graciously gave it to her, so again, she would know that nothing is impossible with God.  Here’s the sign – your relative Elizabeth has conceived – you know, the old one who was called barren.  And even now, she is in her sixth month.  And so, Mary’s incredible response?  “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”  An incredible response of surrender and faith.
Think about what that meant.  It is suggested one reason for the betrothal period was to prove the purity of the betrothed.  They had gone through a ceremony to be pledged to one another.  But the marriage ceremony and consummation of the union would be about a year later.  They would live in their own homes – likely with their parents – at least Mary.  The day would come – a celebration would take place, a parade where Mary would be escorted from her old home to her new home.  It was something most looked forward to.  While most marriages were arranged, by this time, the bride and the groom did have some say in the matter. 
But the angel just told her – you’re going to conceive.  Listen, we the readers know it won’t be the normal way – husband and wife coming together.  But really, who would believe this outlandish tale?  That which is conceived in you is by the Holy Spirit?  Sure Mary.  Even Joseph, who was likely in love with Mary, didn’t believe it.  It was within OT law to have her stoned.  He was considering divorcing her, and putting her away privately.  The wedding ceremony?  Never happen.  Marital joy?  Not likely – who would want an unfaithful bride.  Her life, potentially ruined.  Can you imagine the whisperings, the gossip, the judgment, the condemnation.  Even later, when Jesus was an adult, the religious leaders referred to Him as illegitimate.  We don’t know who the father is, after all, she never confessed.  He never came forward to claim her.  Well, unless it was Joseph. There would be shame and embarrassment, maybe even ostracization.
Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word – come what may.  There is a sense in which we are expected to believe and surrender in the same way.  We believe in the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus – and His promised return.  You believe that old myth?  Where is the promise of His coming?  Ridicule, ostracization, perhaps even coming persecution.
Now at that time, seemingly immediately after the annunciation, Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah.  We’re never told the name of the city, but the hill country is considered to be south of Jerusalem, making the trip from Nazareth up to a 70, 80-mile trip.  For a young teenage girl.  It appears she made the trip quickly, to see Elizabeth, who was advanced in years – past childbearing years, yet apparently in her sixth month.  It was the sign Gabriel had given her, and so Mary goes to see.  The trip would normally take 3-4 days. 
Oh, and not only was she a young teenaged girl, she was a pregnant virgin.  No wonder she was in a hurry.  To see affirmation that what she had been told was true.  She gets to the city and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  We don’t know what she said, simply a greeting – loud enough to be heard not only by the matron of the house, but by the child Elizabeth carried.
“John was the greatest prophet of the old covenant—the one called to announce the coming of the Christ.  Jesus was the Christ, the Lord of the new covenant.  So when Mary met Elizabeth, the covenants connected…(and) there was a spontaneous outburst of exultant joy, as the old covenant greeted the new.” (Philip Ryken)
By that age, infants in the womb are moving about a bit.  Swimming around, using arms and legs.  When we were pregnant – do you like that – when we were pregnant?  When Tana was pregnant with our first, I would get home from work late, climb into bed and start talking to Stephen, our oldest.  I would start jostling her stomach, wake him up and we’d play a little.  He’d stick out an appendage, sometime far enough for me to grab it.  Then, after a few minutes, I’d say, good night, turn over and go to sleep.
In this case, John heard Mary’s voice – a voice he’d never heard – and leapt for joy.  People argue about whether it was a conscious, knowledgeable leap.  Did John know what he was doing?  I’m not sure we can answer that question, and I don’t think it matters, but it does speak to his personhood.  What we do know is that he was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb.  What we do know is that he was to be the forerunner – preparing the way, announcing the coming of the Messiah. 
John says, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.  So this joy of mine has been made full.  He must increase, but I must decrease.”  That’s what followers of Jesus do – point people to Jesus. 
Something else interesting – a little aside.  Full joy, John had, yet he never drank wine or liquor – but his was a life of joy.  Seems like you can be happy, joy-filled, while walking with Christ.  In fact, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace.  It’s why Paul said, don’t look to outside influences like alcohol to bring you joy – instead, be filled with the Spirit.  That’s unparalleled joy.  You see, there is always an expression of joy when people meet Jesus as the Christ.  When people understand who Jesus is, they recognize Him as John did, what other response can there possible be, but joy?  Looking for joy?  You’ll find ultimate joy in Jesus – not what this world has to offer. 
John was filled with the Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.  Someone asked me – does that mean he was saved in utero?  I don’t know – I kind of doubt it – it takes explicit faith in Jesus to be saved.  But in a special way, John was filled and prepared for the ministry he was called to do.  It’s a perfect picture of God enabling the called, not calling the enabled.  Do you see that?  In other words, if God calls you to some ministry, don’t worry about your meager abilities.  John was a baby – yet filled by the Spirit, he could do what God called him to.  Same with you.  Oh, and by the way, if you read the gospels carefully, it seems his ministry lasted about six months.  You can do much for the cause of Christ for as long or as little as God gives you, as long as you are faithful.
A second thing that happened when Elizabeth and baby John heard Mary’s voice was Elizabeth was now filled with the Spirit.  When Christ arrived, John leapt for joy; when Christ arrived, Elizabeth shouted for joy.  We find often in the Scripture people are filled with the Spirit for a particular task…Samson, Saul, David, etc.
In this particular case Elizabeth cried out with a loud voice – a phrase often used of something important or prophetic – “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”  Wait – what?  How did Elizabeth know?  Clearly Mary is pregnant now – the Spirit has come upon her and the power of the Most High has overshadowed her.  She has conceived, which means by the way, she made the long, arduous trip on foot while pregnant.  But it’s only been a few days – she wouldn’t be showing for weeks.  She’s a few days pregnant.  How in the world did Elizabeth know?  Remember, she was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Meaning, not only was the pregnancy of Elizabeth confirmation to Mary that what Gabriel had said would come to pass – the exclamation of Elizabeth now confirms it as well.  You see, it’s even possible Mary herself did not know at this point she was pregnant – but she does now.
Blessed is the fruit of your womb – a Hebraism to speak of pregnancy.  By the way, the word for blessed is eulogeo, from which we get our word eulogy.  It literally means, good words.  Blessed, honored is the fruit of your womb – the child you are carrying.  But also, blessed, same word, are you among women.  It’s a superlative – you are most blessed among women.  Again, as we talked about last week – this is not a blessing Mary has earned or produced.  It is a blessing she has received – she is most blessed among all women, because she was chosen to bear the Messiah, the Son of God, producing salvation for those who believe.  There could be no greater blessing than that.  God brought the Messiah, born of a woman, Galatians 1 says.
Later, when Mary in her Magnificat says, from this time on all generations will count me as blessed, we see once again she was blessed, she was not the blessing or the source of blessing.  She was the blessed one, the graced one, chosen to bear the Savior of the world.  So last week when I suggested we as Protestants perhaps make too little of Mary – this is what I mean.  While undeserved, she was still the one who gave birth to our Savior. 
It is appropriate, like Elizabeth, that we honor these women for these greatest of honors.  That doesn’t make Mary perfect or without need of a Savior, or the object of our prayers or the queen of heaven – all the things we talked about last week.  But it is appropriate to honor her for the great way she was honored.  Does that make sense?  Listen, one day I will look her up in heaven – she won’t be sitting on a throne with a crown as the queen of heaven.  But she will be blessed – the most blessed of women.  And I think it appropriate to honor her as such.  As we all are gathered around the throne – His throne – praising Him for His work toward us – you see, not only using someone as unassuming and undeserving as Mary, but saving someone as unassuming and undeserving as us.
34 “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Jesus is clearly, Lord and Christ, in fulfillment of OT prophecy in Psalm 110.  And so, Elizabeth says, how is it that the mother of my Lord.  Stop right there.  Elizabeth was the older one – significantly older – well advanced in years.  Mary was a young teenager.  Not only that, Elizabeth was the wife of priest, of the line of Aaron.  Yet, in this honor-shame culture, the older woman says to the younger one, how is it that you would come to me?  Such humility.
I’ve said it – we can learn much from these stories.  Elizabeth was herself now pregnant – years of shame because of her barrenness were washed away in a moment.  She’s now expecting.  Remember, she had said earlier, “He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”  But such honor did not make her arrogant.  She demonstrated great humility.  Think of it, shouldn’t it have been the other way around?  Shouldn’t Mary be showing honor to her aged, expecting relative?  I’m quite confident she did.  But Elizabeth is a picture of grace and humility – as Mary will be next week.  How is it that you would come to me?  She put herself, though higher socially, in the place of a servant. 
Finally, the last thing she says is, verse 45, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”  Whoa, what a contrast.  Zacharias had not believed, Mary had.  It’s why she had made the 4-day, 80-mile trip to see Elizabeth.  Whatsapp or Facetime wouldn’t work.  It would take a personal visit – at great personal cost – and a demonstration of great faith. 
This word blessed is different than the one Elizabeth used earlier.  It is makarios and speaks of an inward joy unaffected by outward circumstances.  It speaks of God’s favor on a person.  It’s the word Jesus later used in His beatitudes, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they, and they alone, will see the kingdom of God.  You see further, the blessed, inward joy despite outward unbelief all around us, is for all those who believe that what our Lord has spoken will be fulfilled.  One notes that Elizabeth’s former blessing was because of Mary’s motherhood and blessed child; this blessing is because of Mary’s faith.  She believed and was blessed – as will we be as we unfaltering, faithfully believe. 
What an example these two are to us today.  One writes, “These two were to become innocent coconspirators, soul-sisters in the divine plot to save the lost.” (Hughes) They were women of great strength, faith, trust, humility, honor – the list goes on and on.  They were the first to believe that God had come to redeem His people – and they believed.  They are here, you see, to demonstrate faith and faithfulness to us – in the midst of a culture of doubt and denial.  It’s an encouragement for us to believe, even when there is great cost in doing so; when it is remarkable, even unbelievable.