Luke 1:39–56

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture. Memorize the memory verse.

1.         Mary and Elizabeth, cousins, and both descendants of the tribe of Judah, through whom the Messiah must come, both give birth, and both miraculously.

2.         Elizabeth, in her old age, will give birth to a male child who will be called John, and later, John the Baptist.

3.         Mary will give birth to Jesus, Jeshuah, or Joshua, who is the promised seed of Genesis 3:15, and who will triumph over the seed of the serpent, indeed, who is the Messiah or Christ.

4.         Mary, just after conception, travels south to Judea to visit her relative Elizabeth, who authenticates what has happened to young Mary. Elizabeth’s unborn child leaped in her womb when she heard Mary’s greeting, surely a miraculous sign of encouragement to both women.

5.         Mary then, unquestionably filled with the Holy Spirit, declares what is known as the “Magnificat” based on the first words Mary utters, “magnifies” the Lord and is an expression of wonderment, praise, and thanksgiving.

6.         The phrases “my soul” and “my spirit,” are a typical parallelism, and here of profound amazement and praise.

7.         Mary is acutely aware of her low status as a poor, young, female and bows before Her maker’s majesty.

8.         Then, due to an incredible flash of inspiration, she grasps something of who this child she will give birth to        is. 9.         Despite the powerlessness, humbleness, of her circumstance will come the fulfillment of what had been revealed to the prophets of old especially to Abraham.