MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron
As we continue a series, "introducing Jesus in the gospels", we saw that God broke 400 years of silence with the angel's visits to Zacharias and Mary. After Gabriel told Mary that Zacharias' wife Elizabeth would miraculously have a child in her old age, Mary decided to travel from Nazareth to visit her relative. Let's look at their meeting, which is one of the most tender, yet theologically rich moments, in the gospel narrative.
"Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit" (Luke 1:39-41).
Far from being a casual family visit, this encounter serves multiple purposes in Luke’s effort to reveal Jesus. When Mary entered the house and found Elizabeth with child, just as Gabriel had told her, God's promises were confirmed. The baby leaping in Elizabeth's womb was a physical response, a sign of recognition and joy. At the same time, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she declared, "'Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ... And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord'" (Luke 1:42-45).
In this divine confirmation, God affirmed the angel's words to Mary about her relative, and He validated His greatest work - not through priests or kings, but through the faith of a humble elderly woman and an unborn child. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth affirmed three key truths:
• Mary was blessed among women
• The child she carried was her Lord
• Mary's faith was honored, because she had believed the Lord's promises
Elizabeth's greeting was the first New Testament confession of Christ's lordship. She acknowledged Jesus as Lord before the manger, before the miracles, and before the cross. God's plan is active, even in the womb! The baby that Elizabeth was carrying, who later became known as John the Baptist, began his role as forerunner. His leap of joy was not random, but the first act of his prophetic ministry, which was described in John 1:29-30.
When Mary left home on her hasty journey, she had wanted to share her exciting news, but she also needed to seek and share support. Her visit to Elizabeth illustrated the importance of spiritual community. Both women were recipients of miraculous promises and experiences, but each would face great difficulties, and the sons they delivered would both die horrible deaths. We need to strengthen each other, even as our faith is being expanded and God's promises are coming to fulfillment.
Four times in Luke chapter 1, we see the Holy Spirit active:
• Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit, and she prophesied (verse 41)
• John was filled with the Spirit while still in the womb (verse 15)
• Mary magnified the Lord in the Spirit's power (verse 46-55)
• Zacharias, filled with the Spirit, found his voice and prophesied (verse 67)
The Spirit connects the old covenant, represented by Elizabeth and John, with the new, as Mary and Jesus reveal the continuity and fulfillment of God's plan. In Luke 1:39-45, Elizabeth and Mary reveal a bridge between ancient and contemporary.
• Elizabeth’s baby, John, is the last manifestation of the Old Covenant; Mary’s baby is the beginning of the New.
• In Johns’ family we see the priestly lineage of Aaron, while Jesus’ royal lineage through David is revealed.
• Zacharias in the temple follows the Law; Jesus IS the temple, where a holy God is present and administers grace.
• Elizabeth and Israel had waited, barren; Mary was blessed with fruitfulness, despite her virginity, and her Son blessed the nations.
• John came in the spirit of Elijah as a prophet, while Jesus arrived as prophet, priest, and king.
• John prepared the way; Jesus IS the Way.
• Elizabeth is one of the last faithful voices of the Old Covenant, and John is its final prophet (Malachi 4:5–6). Mary is the first bearer of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31), and Jesus is the New Covenant in person (Hebrews 8:6–13).
• The Old Covenant says, “Get ready,” while the New Covenant declares, “He’s here!”
Mary’s Magnificat, which we plan to examine in depth next week, proclaims that God’s salvation through Jesus fulfills promises and brings about change. Her visit to Elizabeth might be called the first Christian worship service: It included a confession of faith, songs of praise, and joy, all within a community of Spirit-filled believers. Everyone involved was centered on Jesus, who at this time was still in the womb - God's promise, His only Son.
