01-05A

This is still prior to the birth of Jesus.

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Had this happened after she was married, Mary would not have had nearly the same problem. No doubt Mary had to live with a certain stigma all the days of her life, for there would always be those who would claim that she had become pregnant out of wedlock (which, in fact, she had). We have no news of Mary's parents.

Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah

Mary travels to visit Elizabeth, who's usually referred to as a cousin, but we don't know for sure. The angel seemed to suggest this trip. Elizabeth hid herself for 5 months, but by the time the angel came to Mary it had been six months, so it's almost certain that the family knew of Elizabeth's condition. We don't know whether Mary had yet shared information of her situation with her family. If anyone could sympathize with Mary, it would be Elizabeth. They had a lot in common. We don't know how, or even whether, Mary was kept out of hot water with her parents, but it was probably Elizabeth and Zechariahs who stood up to Mary's defense.

We're not told what city it was, but it was probably a Levitical city. Zechariahs was part of the Levitical priesthood. 48 Cities were designated throughout all the other territories as Levitical cities. The Levites were priests and city dwellers. Mary was from Nazareth. A trip to Judea would be a journey of a week or so. Did she make this trip through dangerous country alone? This is a major journey. She would have procure lodging along the way.

She went with haste. She probably needed to unburden herself of her secret.

Luke 1:40 And entered into the house of Zechariahs, and saluted Elisabeth.

Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

It was predicted that the baby would be filled with the HS (v15), but it here says that Elizabeth was filled with the HS. This was apparently not one of those normal baby kicks, but a leap associated with the inspiration of the HS.

Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Luke 1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

Luke 1:45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

If Mary went down to Elizabeth for encouragement, this must have been it. Mary didn't even get to tell the story, and she wasn't even showing yet. Mary barely got "hi" out before Elizabeth was prophesying about her condition. Also, this is in a loud voice. The secret is definitely out now.

Mary is called blessed among women. We don't venerate Mary in the same way the RCC does. We don't pray to her, nor do we consider her a co-redemptress with Christ, nor our intercessor. But it is biblical to say that she is blessed among all women. She was chosen as the mother of Christ. She's the most famous mother ever. Mary's generation was probably aware that this was the generation in which Christ would come, and it's possible that there was hope among the women in Israel that they would be selected as the mother of the Messiah.

She was not perfect. She was saved by grace just like the rest of us. But God wasn't random in His selection of a family. It's okay to honor Mary... not to the degree the RCC does, but among biblical heroes, she's certainly up there. She laid her life and her reputation on the line.

JTB apparently recognized Jesus even from the womb, even though Christ had only recently been conceived.

Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

Luke 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

Mary was a sinner like anyone else and, as such, needed a Savior just like the rest of us.

Luke 1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luke 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

Luke 1:50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

Luke 1:51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

This speech of Mary's is called The Magnificat. This is similar to Hannah's speech.

1Sa 2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

1Sa 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

1Sa 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

1Sa 2:5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

1Sa 2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

1Sa 2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

1Sa 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

1Sa 2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

1Sa 2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Both speeches begin with glorifying God, and then they talk about how God sets low the haughty, and exalts the lowly. Both of them prophetically declare something that God is doing. When Hannah lived, there were no kings in Israel. Hanna's son Samuel anointed the first king of Israel. 1 Sa 2:10 is probably also predicting the Christ. She saw in her own circumstance a type of what God does generally. God eventually takes up the cause of the underdogs.

This is a general biblical theme. God resists the proud and exalts the humble.

Now Mary was different than Hannah, but apparently she saw herself as downtrodden. In v48 she describes herself as lowly, humble slave.

Luke 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

Luke 17:8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

Luke 17:9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

This is the mentality of the Christian who has been 100% obedient. If you haven't been 100% obedient, then you should be even more humble.

This is Jesus' teaching about self-esteem. View yourself as unprofitable even when you're fully obedient. When you find yourself doing better than other people, more consistent, more faithful than others, more godly than others... then you can congratulate yourself as an unworthy servant. The servant should have lowly expectations. God is not our servant. This flies in the face of health-wealth.

Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Luke 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

This kind of contradicts 17:7-10, but not really. 17:7-10, speaks of what our expectations should be... what our attitude should be like. We are not to have an entitlement mentality. Christ will take up our cause, and will take care of us, but it's not because we're entitled to anything. It's because of his great love and mercy and grace to usward.

Luke 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

The point is, Mary saw herself in a lowly and humble way. She acknowledges that she is blessed, but not because of her own greatness. She gives God credit.

Luke 11:27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Does this imply that Mary was not always keeping the word? He may not be saying this, He may be saying, "not only that". But either way, Mary was correct when she said that people would call her blessed, here's a fulfillment of that.

Mary was a Jewish mom who had great occasion to boast. But, she doesn't boast of herself. When the shepherds reported that the sky was full of angels praising Mary's son...

Luke 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.