Proper Responses to Christ

Luke 1:39–56
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, and why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

And Mary remained with her about three months and returned home.

Context of the Passage

Gabriel has announced to Zechariah that his barren wife Elizabeth will bear a son, the forerunner of the Messiah. He then announces to Mary, a virgin, that she will bear the Messiah himself—Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. Mary is a nobody from nowhere, from insignificant Nazareth, yet God sovereignly chooses her by grace to bear Jesus. This mirrors how God chooses insignificant people, dead in sin, to bear Christ within them.

Mary hurries to visit Elizabeth, her relative, as Gabriel mentioned. This interaction instructs us on proper responses to the gospel, especially as Luke writes to Theophilus, a Gentile, showing his place in the new covenant community. These are not mere histories but guides for responding to Christ—particularly poignant as we reflect on the birth narrative on the day of crucifixion, seeing the infant Jesus who came to die for our sins.

Elizabeth's Response: Filled with the Holy Spirit

Elizabeth had already praised God for removing her reproach of barrenness (Luke 1:24–25). Now, upon Mary's arrival, her unborn baby leaps, and she is filled with the Holy Spirit. Without Mary announcing her pregnancy, Elizabeth exclaims:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Mary is only a month pregnant, not showing, and unmarried—circumstances that should provoke shame, not joy. Yet, filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth rejoices, recognizing the Lord in Mary's womb. Being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) is passive—He fills us when we do not quench or grieve Him through sin. Sin causes poor responses; the Spirit enables proper ones in every circumstance, eliminating conflict and negativity. A gentle answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1).

Even six-month-old John the Baptist leaps for joy in the womb at one-month-old Jesus—demonstrating personhood from conception. Filled with the Spirit from the womb (Luke 1:15), John worships Jesus before His miracles, death, or resurrection. This convicts us: an unborn baby rejoiced more than many professing Christians today. The Spirit brings true joy, not killjoy, enabling even infants to enjoy Christ.

Mary's Response: Humility and Worship

Mary's Magnificat echoes Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 2:1–10), but she does not boast despite her privilege. Instead:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

She calls herself God's humble slave (doulē), rejoicing not in her role but in salvation. She magnifies the Lord—displaying His greatness through her life as His vessel. Blessed means happy because God exalts the humble, scatters the proud, fills the hungry, and remembers mercy to Israel and Abraham's offspring forever (Genesis 17:19). Mary focuses on God's salvation for His people, including Gentiles by faith, not her own fame.

Her worship flows from humility and fear of God—attitudes God exalts (Isaiah 66:1–2). We enjoy praise from people, but true humility seeks God's opinion. Mary's song shows lives revolutionized from sin to sanctification, bursting into joyful worship.

Proper Responses Summarized

From Elizabeth, Mary, baby John, and Mary's worship: Respond to Christ with humility and fear, experiencing joy and worship. This is the gospel's aim—to mine its truths for fresh enjoyment of Christ, regardless of circumstances, fueling lives of praise.