December 10 - Mary's Response

December 10 - Mary's Response - Luke 1:39-56

The first thing that Mary does upon realizing that she is about to give birth to the Savior is head for Elizabeth's home. I'm not really certain, but I'll bet that she has heard about Elizabeth's pregnancy and the wonderful things of God surrounding the beginning of that child's life. Who better to share her news?

Do you suppose that she knew Gabriel had spoken with Zechariah and that she wanted to be where people would fully understand what had happened to her? We know that Joseph was upset about everything, I suspect that Mary's mother and father were pretty freaked out. Yet, the story was out about Zechariah's encounter. His home would be safe.

Elizabeth immediately recognized the importance of the child that had been conceived within Mary. Luke 1:41 is such an amazing verse. "Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." Can you imagine what was happening to this woman? I simply cannot take in all of the flood of emotions and sensations that she was having. She was an older woman who believed she would be barren, yet she was pregnant with a child that would proclaim the coming of the Savior. Her niece, Mary shows up at her door and the child leaps inside her at the sound of Mary's voice and the Holy Spirit fills her. This is a lot of stuff for one woman. Luke 1:42 says that she exclaimed in a loud voice ... I'll bet she did! There was so much excitement inside her!

Her words of blessing on Mary are beautiful, but Luke 1:45 tells us a lot about the young woman, Mary. "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." I want to be that woman - the one that believes that what the Lord says will be accomplished.

Mary's response in Luke 1:46-55 is called the "Magnificat," Latin for 'glorify.' This song is very reminiscent of Hannah's song (1 Samuel 2:1-10) that was sung when she delivered her son, Samuel to Eli to be raised in the temple. If you have the time, take it to read both of these songs.

As we come to the end of her song, we realize that she is quite mindful of the place that her Son will hold in the history of the Jewish people. He is fulfilling the covenant that God made with Abraham and his descendants.

Mary sings praise to God, who is able to do all things, yet has asked her to be the mother of a child that will save the world. What does she say, though in Luke 1:49? "He has done great things for me." Such gratefulness and humility.

This is the woman that God chose.