The Christmas Story: Love is Born Part III (Luke 1:39-56)
Verse 39 This journey would have been over 80 miles and taken 3-4 days.
• No mention is made of a traveling companion but a young “single” woman would not have traveled alone.
Verse 40-41 The word used here actually means to leap for Joy!
• At that same moment Elizabeth is also filled with the Holy Spirit.
o This also explains how it is that John was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.
Verse 42 Nothing in the text explains how Elizabeth would have known this other than through the Holy Spirit
• This is also not a subtle declaration. She cried out loudly with a mega cry
Verse 43 Elizabeth, the elder, shows humility here in questioning how she is worthy of such a visit.
• The use of the title “my Lord” here is regal in nature and could be seen as “my king”
Verse 44 Elizabeth now tells Mary about the leaping of the baby within her, and adds the leap was for Joy.
Verse 45 In this statement Elizabeth also seems to be expressing her own faith.
Mary now answers with a song: It’s the first of four songs in the birth narrative.
I. Praise, the first part of the song is simple praise. 46-47.
• Much like How Jesus taught his disciples to pray in the Lord’s prayer, by beginning with praise.
Verse 46 “My soul” shows that this was a praise that came from deep within her.
• The word “glorifies” or “exalts” means: to make great, to magnify, to deem or declare great.
Verse 47 Spirit here is the used in the same way as soul in the last verse.
• The verb rejoices here is also emphatic: Rejoice exceedingly, extremely joyful
II. Recalling the Lord’s blessings to her personally. 48-49
Verse 48 She starts this verse by admitting her humble position.
Verse 49 She acknowledges the great things God has done for her.
• In the OT ‘Mighty One’ often alluded to the Warrior God, who fights for and delivers his people.
III. The Lord’s blessings to the world at large, especially the lowly or humble. 50-53
Verse 50 Mary turns to the things the Lord has done for all His people.
• Mary also turns from God’s holiness to his mercy. Consideration of one character leads into another.
Verse 51 Mary appears to be quoting something here. A Jewish proverbial saying or an extra biblical writing?
Verse 52 This is a typical Hebrew reversal in role.
• In fact, verses 52 and 53 are very similar in wording to a Jewish writing known as Sirach 10:14.
o So, this was a common Jewish theme.
Verse 53 The hungry and humble look to God for everything making them available to be filled by God.
• When you look at these last three verses you realize that this is the mission of Jesus.
IV. The blessings of the Lord for Israel 54-55
• Mary’s song now becomes more specific to just the nation of Israel.
Verse 54 God’s mercy is the basis for his unending help and faithfulness to the nation Israel.
