This week’s lesson is the story of Gabriel’s visit to Mary, and Mary’s subsequent visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:26-56). It is a pretty short section of scripture, but ginormous in its scope. I’m imagining that when Mary, who was surely well-versed in scripture, got word from Gabriel that she would be giving birth to THE king of God’s eternal kingdom (v. 33); MUCH of old testament scripture must have rushed into her mind and heart.
The following list of chapters from many different books in the old testament contain some of the important prophesies regarding God’s Kingdom: 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 22; 45; 72, 89; 110; Isaiah 9; 42; 49; Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Zechariah 9; 12; 13; Malachi 3 and 4.
Probably lots of these scripture verses came to Mary’s mind when Gabriel visited her. Which of course, gives good context for her song of joy (often refered to as the magnificat) in Luke 1:46-55.
The Narrative for this lesson is almost verbatim from the New Living Translation. Though I did change “praise” back to “magnify” in verse 46.
(The phrase “magnify the Lord” could be a topic of discussion for the bigs, as it points directly to God’s purpose in creating us).
And of course the Big Idea in this lesson is that Mary got news that she would be the mother of not just a king, but THE forever King, Jesus who would bring healing to all the brokenness in the world!
Narrative:
Memory Verse: How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! Luke 1:47
While Elizabeth was still pregnant with her son John, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to young, unmarried girl named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You are going to have a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a young and not married”
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she couldn’t have children, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul magnifies the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.