Sunday School Lesson 4: Expectant Mothers’ Faith, Luke 1:36-45, 56, December 24, 2023.Key Text: 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: and she spake out with a loud voice, Blessed art thou among women (Luke 1:41-42). The Gospel of Luke narrates the salutation of the angel Gabriel, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with thee” which constitutes Mary a fountain of grace. She was highly favored above all women in being permitted to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour. Jesus would fulfill the Messianic hope, the ancient prophecy of Psalm 72, succeed in the throne of David, and rule over the house of Jacob forever. By the way, we may admire and honor the Virgin-Mother, but we may not pray to her or worship her in any way. Mary and the Jews did not fully know the person of the Holy Spirit yet. The salutation would overshadow her and the reality of the incarnation perplexed Mary to express her astonishment in the form of an inquiry since she was not married yet to Joseph her betrothed. To her inquiry, Gabriel added to his declaration of “the how.” Elizabeth had conceived against nature six months ago. God was doing with both Mary and Elizabeth, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” v 38. In simple, beautiful faith and submission, Mary presented herself to the Lord even in her betrothal to Joseph. Her faith was the rarest. She was willing to give up Joseph and even suffer the mutilation of a horrible death if need be. Mary hastened to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth who lived in Judea near Hebron, a five days’ journey. Immediately upon Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and with a loud voice in spiritual ecstasy, pronounced a blessing upon her visitor, Mary and the Promised Child. The Holy Spirit had already revealed to Elizabeth the honor that had been conferred on Mary. The “Song of Elizabeth” (the first of the New Testament hymns) praised God for Mary’s faith and assurance of the fulfillment of the promise of the angel-messenger vs 41-45. After hearing this confirmation, Mary humbled herself and was filled with joy, which she expressed in a hymn, The Magnificat of Mary vs 46-56, modeled on that of Hannah (I Sam. 2:1-10). In the first stanza, Mary magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God as her Savior for His blessings on her lowly estate, raising her to the position of eternal praise. The second stanza praises God for His power, holiness, and mercy, in bringing blessings to untold generations. In the third stanza, the proud and rebellious are scattered and the oppressed exalted; the rich are sent away empty while the poor are filled. In the last stanza, she praises God for fulfilling His promises to His people Israel, made to Abraham and forefathers, by sending the Messiah vs 46-55. Both of these hymns will usher in the first soloists with a burst of sacred songs for the Christian experience. AMEN!
Leave a Reply