Sermon Series: A Time for Wonder

“Good News Before Good News – Luke 1:39-56

Impossible Anticipation

  • In the scriptures, theologically, barrenness is a sign that life is coming to an end with no hope for a future. Barrenness is usually followed up with a promise for God’s newness. (Gen. 12:1-3 – Sarah; Gen. 25:21 – Rebekah; Gen. 30:1 – Rachel; Judges 13:2 – Mahoah’s wife; 1 Samuel 1:5 – Hannah). 

  • In the emptiness of barrenness, we discover disbelief on the part of Zechariah and Elizabeth who rejoices and the news of their son will usher in newness to the whole world. 

  • What appears to be an impossibility for Elizabeth is magnified by Mary’s situation. While not barren, Mary is a virgin and elevates the impossibility to show a God can use anyone to shift a narrative we did not know was possible. 


Generational Transformation

  • Elizabeth is old. Mary is not. We also know that Elizabeth and Zechariah have lived upstanding lives (1:6) before the Lord. This reality would potentially elevate their status among younger people. It may be easy to assume that Mary would probably stand in reverence to Elizabeth. 

  • What we discover is the reverence that Elizabeth shows toward Mary. 

  • While we are not told why Mary goes to visit Elizabeth, we do know this is a way for Luke to bring John and Jesus together and connect them for the future. 

  • There is a mutuality of sharing where each of them offers so much to the other. It serves as a reminder of the ways there is fullness in shared generational gathering.

  • Mary goes on to speak of this in the Magnificat. 

  • Two features of this psalm of praise deserve special attention.  First, God is praised – in the past tense – for what he has done.  The lines in the song that refer to God’s establishing his justice and mercy in the future contain past tense verbs, not future tense verbs.  The use of these verbs indicates a faith and confidence to speak of the things of God as though they already are in existence.  Mary is so sure that God will do what he has promised that she can proclaim it as an already accomplished fact. (Daniels)

  • Second, the song includes a great reversal of fortunes.  The God who brings down the mighty and exalts the lowly, who fills the hungry and sends the rich away empty, is a prominent theme throughout Luke.  In Jesus, the eschatological reversal has already begun, and the choice of Mary is proof of it. (Daniels)


Spirt Shifting

  • When Mary arrives to see Elizabeth, the text tells us the baby leaped into Mary’s womb at the presence of Jesus, and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. 

  • Elizabeth has every reason to speak against Mary, for her situation, for her reality, etc., but instead we learn of her humility and celebration. 

  • This is what happens when people are filled with the Holy Spirit. Our responses reflect a life transformed by the Spirit and not one of condemnation or shame. 

  • This serves as a reminder to those of us walking with Jesus that a ‘holier than thou’ posture is not reflective of a kingdom that God ushers in when it’s Jesus who brings the transformation in our lives. 

(Resources provided by Fred Craddock, Justo Gonzalez, NT Wright, and T. Scott Daniels)



Discussion Questions


  1. What are some impossibilities in your life that God has helped to overcome? What are some impossibilities you are experiencing now?

  2. What is so profound about Elizabeth’s humility toward Mary in this story? Do you feel it would be difficult for her to show humility?

  3. What does elevating the lowly say about God and His kingdom?

  4. What God has done, God is doing, and God will do is a statement of faith on Mary’s part and invitation to us. What can we learn from this?

  5. How tempting is it to posture yourself as “better than” or “worthy of judgment” toward other believers?