6 min
Advent Podcast - Episode 22 - The Twenty-Fifth Day of Advent The Advent Podcast from Apostles By-the-Sea
-
- Christianity
Mary and ElizabethLuke 1:39-56 - Read by Harris Willman39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”46 And Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord,47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.50 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 powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.ReflectionI once had a professor of New Testament studies who likened the beginning of Luke’s gospel to a musical because, as he said, “people are continually entering the scene and breaking forth in song.” In today’s reading it is Mary who sings, and in her song she declares that God “has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Mary places the coming of Christ within the context of the covenant to Abraham. It is a “big picture” view that shows the amazing covenant faithfulness of God to his people in the sending of his Son. Even more amazing is what the progress of Luke's story reveals. Others who were not originally included in the promise, namely the Gentiles, will come to share in this hope and will benefit from the vindication described here. Our assurance is this: Since God remembers his covenant to Israel, we can rest assured that he will remember his promises to us. God's faithfulness to one promise reinforces his faithfulness to the other. We, as heirs to the promises of God, who always keeps his word, can rejoice that salvation at last has come.Our King and Savior is drawing near!O come, let us adore him!
Mary and ElizabethLuke 1:39-56 - Read by Harris Willman39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”46 And Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord,47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.50 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 powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.ReflectionI once had a professor of New Testament studies who likened the beginning of Luke’s gospel to a musical because, as he said, “people are continually entering the scene and breaking forth in song.” In today’s reading it is Mary who sings, and in her song she declares that God “has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Mary places the coming of Christ within the context of the covenant to Abraham. It is a “big picture” view that shows the amazing covenant faithfulness of God to his people in the sending of his Son. Even more amazing is what the progress of Luke's story reveals. Others who were not originally included in the promise, namely the Gentiles, will come to share in this hope and will benefit from the vindication described here. Our assurance is this: Since God remembers his covenant to Israel, we can rest assured that he will remember his promises to us. God's faithfulness to one promise reinforces his faithfulness to the other. We, as heirs to the promises of God, who always keeps his word, can rejoice that salvation at last has come.Our King and Savior is drawing near!O come, let us adore him!
6 min