Meeting & Magnificat
Sermon 4 in Series
Luke 1:39-56
[39] In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, [40] and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. [41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, [42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! [43] And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [44] For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. [45] And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
[46] And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
[47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
[48] for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
[49] for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
[50] And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
[51] He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
[52] he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
[53] he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
[54] He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
[55] as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
[56] And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
1. How does this narrative tie together previous threads in the Gospel? How are Elizabeth and Mary portrayed?
2. What does the Spirit do in this passage? What implications do we find about the unborn?
3. Where do we see an emphasis on joy? How does this challenge your disposition in life?
4. Why does the veneration of Mary run contrary to Luke’s overall portrayal? Based on this passage and the previous one, how should we think about her and her role in God’s plan?
6. What is the big reversal that Mary anticipates in the Christ event? What does this say about Christianity and the nature of God’s work in the world?
7. How does Mary move from the personal to the corporate/national in her praise? How is it rooted in Genesis?
References: 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (Corporate Reading); Luke 3:22; 1:15; Psalm 110:1; Exodus 6:6; Luke 14:11; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; Genesis 12:1-3.