After the angel Gabriel came to her, Mary went to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was married to Zechariah. It is important to remember what Gabriel had told Zechariah about his son John. We see from what happened when the women greeted each other that John was filled with the Holy Spirit even in Elizabeth’s womb. The Holy Spirit is often represented by a dove, as the Spirit came down in the form of a dove when Jesus was baptized.
Luke 1:39-56
Mary Visits Elizabeth
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] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat
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.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
What happened when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting? (41-44)
What did Elizabeth say to Mary? (42-45)
What does that show about Elizabeth?
What did Mary say about God? (46-55)
What does that show about Mary?
THOUGHT QUESTIONS:
What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?
What showed that Elizabeth and Mary were filled with the Holy Spirit?
Why is it so important to be filled with the Spirit?
What shuts the Holy Spirit out of a person’s life?
PRAYER:
Pray that you would be filled continually with God’s Spirit, that you would honor and glorify him by doing his will. Pray that you would be aware of any sin in your life that would separate you from the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and that you would want to turn away from sin and do what God wants.
FOCUS VERSE: Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires