The Holy Spirit and Mary’s visit to Elizabeth
Author: Frank G. Tunstall
Mary’s senior adult relative, Elizabeth, lived in the hill country of Judea. She and her husband, Zachariah,
“were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord
blameless” (Luke 1:6; Isaiah 40:1-3). The angel Gabriel visited Zachariah in the temple while he was
offering incense and told him his wife would conceive Messiah’s forerunner. Gabriel said John would go
to the people of Israel in the spirit and power of Elijah, “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord”
(Luke 1:17; Matthew 3:3).
Gabriel also told Mary that Elizabeth was in her sixth month carrying Messiah’s forerunner. If Mary
needed any confirmation of what Gabriel said, making the trip to visit Elizabeth was a fool-proof way to
verify the angelic prophecy. In addition, Mary could have wanted to share with Elizabeth what was
happening in their wombs. She also might have desired to get away from the wagging tongues of
Nazareth who were so very sure her baby was illegitimate.
Mary did make the long trip south to visit Elizabeth, who lived in the Judean hills. Luke did not record
how Joseph felt about the trip, or Mary’s parents, or if anyone traveled with Mary. In fact, Luke gave no
detail at all about this 14-year old’s journey of possibly ninety miles on the coastal route, or 70 miles
taking the road through Samaria. If she averaged twelve miles a day in a caravan, it meant at least a
week on the road (Luke 1:39). We need no convincing the Holy Spirit protected her, staying with her
every step in the journey.
It is in the job description of the Holy Spirit to stay with you too, dear reader, in every twist and turn of
your life’s journey.
Ein Karem, the traditional birthplace of John the Baptist, was about four miles southwest of Jerusalem in
the first century; today it is a suburb of the Holy City.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for a few months. How did her parents feel about her absence when there
was no way to communicate? And what about Joseph’s feelings and emotions? For certain, he was a
man of the highest integrity who knew how to detect the voice of God and obey what he was told. He
obviously committed Mary to the care of the Lord. Every loving parent sooner or later will face the same
experience with their children and deal with the same emotions.
When Mary, a teenager, stepped across the threshold of her senior adult relative’s humble home, the
proof was immediate. In the moment, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy.
John (the Baptist), a six-month baby in Elizabeth’s womb in that same moment leaped in her womb for
joy (Luke 1:36, 41). John was filled with the Holy Spirit from His mother’s womb (Luke 1:15).
Baby John’s response as a six-month’s fetus (Baby) in his mom’s womb, vividly points out the gross evil of
abortion. Not only does abortion kill a life, it also robs God of the honor He is due in the birth of every
baby (Genesis 4:1).
Don’t miss it, dear reader. The Holy Spirit chose a young teenager and a barren senior adult woman to
bring Messiah’s forerunner and Jesus Himself into the world.
The Holy Spirit and Mary’s Knowledge of Scripture
Mary was already full of the Holy Spirit and of the Old Testament Scriptures when Gabriel visited her
with the big announcement. Her parents must have started her memorizing from the time she could
talk.
Neither Mary’s parents, nor Joseph, nor even Mary herself could have known she would compose there
on the spot an immortal psalm and sing it for the first time in Elizabeth’s home. The Magnificat gets its
name from the first line of the hymn, and in Latin it means to glorify or magnify.
The Holy Spirit does not drop verses into our hearts that we have never read or heard. If the Spirit did
that, few people would ever read the Bible. Yes, the Magnificat demonstrates Mary’s amazing
knowledge of Scripture. It also shows the ability of the Holy Spirit to inspire an enduring hymn using
Mary’s vocabulary, and it has lived for 2,000 years. Luke is the New Testament gospel writer the Holy
Spirit used to record it (Luke 1:46-55).
Mary was a daughter and descendant of King David. Their circumstances were totally different, but their
similar faith in the God of the impossible is legendary. When David was a teenager he had brought
Goliath down with only a sling and five smooth stones. David’s unforgettable speech that was far
beyond his years has lived for 3000 years. David would have been very proud of Mary’s immortal hymn.
[Just maybe David did get to look down from heaven and enjoy it!]
The verses that follow are examples from which the Holy Spirit could have inspired Mary to give us the
song.
46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord [Psalm 34:2-3]
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, [Habakkuk 3:18]
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant [Psalm 138:6).
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me; [Psalm 71:19]
holy is his name [Psalm 111:9].
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation [Exodus 20:6].
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts [Isaiah 40:10].
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble [Daniel 4:25].
53 He has filled the hungry with good things [Psalm 107:9]
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful [Psalm 98:3]
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers" [Genesis 17:7].
Six Bible books are used to compose the classic psalm, drawing eleven citations in ten verses – coming
from this young teenage girl. Simply amazing.
Mary did go back home to Nazareth, and Joseph was faithfully waiting for her.
Joseph and Mary made a second trip south to Bethlehem a few months later to pay their taxes, this time
when she was “great with child” (Luke 2:5). The trip was about the same in miles; Bethlehem is five
miles south of Jerusalem. Baby Jesus was born on that trip in a Bethlehem cave that served as a cattle
stable.
Can anyone deny the Holy Spirit understood the historic time had come? (Galatians 4:4). The Spirit
foreknew all the people in the drama were in place, ready to fulfill their roles and act out of their free
will.
The miracle of the incarnation had become history.
Author: Frank G. Tunstall
Mary’s senior adult relative, Elizabeth, lived in the hill country of Judea. She and her husband, Zachariah,
“were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord
blameless” (Luke 1:6; Isaiah 40:1-3). The angel Gabriel visited Zachariah in the temple while he was
offering incense and told him his wife would conceive Messiah’s forerunner. Gabriel said John would go
to the people of Israel in the spirit and power of Elijah, “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord”
(Luke 1:17; Matthew 3:3).
Gabriel also told Mary that Elizabeth was in her sixth month carrying Messiah’s forerunner. If Mary
needed any confirmation of what Gabriel said, making the trip to visit Elizabeth was a fool-proof way to
verify the angelic prophecy. In addition, Mary could have wanted to share with Elizabeth what was
happening in their wombs. She also might have desired to get away from the wagging tongues of
Nazareth who were so very sure her baby was illegitimate.
Mary did make the long trip south to visit Elizabeth, who lived in the Judean hills. Luke did not record
how Joseph felt about the trip, or Mary’s parents, or if anyone traveled with Mary. In fact, Luke gave no
detail at all about this 14-year old’s journey of possibly ninety miles on the coastal route, or 70 miles
taking the road through Samaria. If she averaged twelve miles a day in a caravan, it meant at least a
week on the road (Luke 1:39). We need no convincing the Holy Spirit protected her, staying with her
every step in the journey.
It is in the job description of the Holy Spirit to stay with you too, dear reader, in every twist and turn of
your life’s journey.
Ein Karem, the traditional birthplace of John the Baptist, was about four miles southwest of Jerusalem in
the first century; today it is a suburb of the Holy City.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for a few months. How did her parents feel about her absence when there
was no way to communicate? And what about Joseph’s feelings and emotions? For certain, he was a
man of the highest integrity who knew how to detect the voice of God and obey what he was told. He
obviously committed Mary to the care of the Lord. Every loving parent sooner or later will face the same
experience with their children and deal with the same emotions.
When Mary, a teenager, stepped across the threshold of her senior adult relative’s humble home, the
proof was immediate. In the moment, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy.
John (the Baptist), a six-month baby in Elizabeth’s womb in that same moment leaped in her womb for
joy (Luke 1:36, 41). John was filled with the Holy Spirit from His mother’s womb (Luke 1:15).
Baby John’s response as a six-month’s fetus (Baby) in his mom’s womb, vividly points out the gross evil of
abortion. Not only does abortion kill a life, it also robs God of the honor He is due in the birth of every
baby (Genesis 4:1).
Don’t miss it, dear reader. The Holy Spirit chose a young teenager and a barren senior adult woman to
bring Messiah’s forerunner and Jesus Himself into the world.
The Holy Spirit and Mary’s Knowledge of Scripture
Mary was already full of the Holy Spirit and of the Old Testament Scriptures when Gabriel visited her
with the big announcement. Her parents must have started her memorizing from the time she could
talk.
Neither Mary’s parents, nor Joseph, nor even Mary herself could have known she would compose there
on the spot an immortal psalm and sing it for the first time in Elizabeth’s home. The Magnificat gets its
name from the first line of the hymn, and in Latin it means to glorify or magnify.
The Holy Spirit does not drop verses into our hearts that we have never read or heard. If the Spirit did
that, few people would ever read the Bible. Yes, the Magnificat demonstrates Mary’s amazing
knowledge of Scripture. It also shows the ability of the Holy Spirit to inspire an enduring hymn using
Mary’s vocabulary, and it has lived for 2,000 years. Luke is the New Testament gospel writer the Holy
Spirit used to record it (Luke 1:46-55).
Mary was a daughter and descendant of King David. Their circumstances were totally different, but their
similar faith in the God of the impossible is legendary. When David was a teenager he had brought
Goliath down with only a sling and five smooth stones. David’s unforgettable speech that was far
beyond his years has lived for 3000 years. David would have been very proud of Mary’s immortal hymn.
[Just maybe David did get to look down from heaven and enjoy it!]
The verses that follow are examples from which the Holy Spirit could have inspired Mary to give us the
song.
46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord [Psalm 34:2-3]
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, [Habakkuk 3:18]
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant [Psalm 138:6).
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me; [Psalm 71:19]
holy is his name [Psalm 111:9].
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation [Exodus 20:6].
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts [Isaiah 40:10].
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble [Daniel 4:25].
53 He has filled the hungry with good things [Psalm 107:9]
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful [Psalm 98:3]
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers" [Genesis 17:7].
Six Bible books are used to compose the classic psalm, drawing eleven citations in ten verses – coming
from this young teenage girl. Simply amazing.
Mary did go back home to Nazareth, and Joseph was faithfully waiting for her.
Joseph and Mary made a second trip south to Bethlehem a few months later to pay their taxes, this time
when she was “great with child” (Luke 2:5). The trip was about the same in miles; Bethlehem is five
miles south of Jerusalem. Baby Jesus was born on that trip in a Bethlehem cave that served as a cattle
stable.
Can anyone deny the Holy Spirit understood the historic time had come? (Galatians 4:4). The Spirit
foreknew all the people in the drama were in place, ready to fulfill their roles and act out of their free
will.
The miracle of the incarnation had become history.