In this next portion of Luke, we turn our attention to what everyone around Elizabeth understood to simply be the birth of the old, barren woman’s son and their old, barren relative’s son. As is so often true for us, what God is doing is not fully understood beyond what can be seen, even while what can be seen is wonderful. Let’s see how God stirred their community up with what they did see Him do.

What greater intervention can anyone ask of God than for Him to step into this fallen world Himself and ultimately reverse this fallen natural order? That’s what Israel was looking forward to in the coming of the Messiah, and that’s what Mary praised God for in her pregnancy with the Messiah.

In the last message, we saw how Mary set the theme of her song of praise in the overflow of her truly devoted and truly delighted heart. In her praise of God, she was caught up in God’s goodness to her, as we go on to see now, and she shows us how to testify about how God blesses us in a way that keeps it all about Him.

What are we all to do in response to blessings and gifts from God, especially those that are clearly recognizable and acknowledged by other people? Mary is going to help us with that. This young lady (probably a teenager) is going to teach us something about glorifying God in His goodness to us.

We are making a transition to see what Mary did next in going to see Elizabeth. These two women, under the blessing of God in their mutually miraculous pregnancies, came together and praised God for what He was doing for and with them. In verses, 39-45, we start with looking at Mary’s impulse to visit Elizabeth and Mary’s impact on Elizabeth.

As God continues to unfold His Word, He reveals the awe-inspiring truth of a son who would be infinitely more than a mere man. We are going to see this in Gabriel’s announcement of His mysterious entrance, meaningful name, magnificence, majesty, and monarchy.

In going on to look at the rest of the angel’s message, we see that he had an incredible announcement for Zechariah and Elizabeth - an announcement that everything was about to change for them in the arrival of a new addition to their family - an addition that would not only literally forever change their life, but also the lives of many others. We will see their prayer answered in a son, and will look at his prominence, purity, and power, as well as his prophetic ministry.