Luke 1:39-45
Mary wasted no time. When Gabriel appeared to her, Elisabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy (v36). We are informed later that “Mary abode with her about three months” (v56)1 just before the birth of John. Therefore, she must have departed almost immediately following Gabriel’s announcement.
Mary Running
Not only did Mary leave quickly, but she traveled quickly, moving “with haste” (v39) to the home of Zacharias and Elisabeth. Their dwelling was somewhere in the hill country surrounding Jerusalem, 80-100 miles from Nazareth. Mary had a four- or five-day trip to make, and she would not be stopping to see the sights along the way. She was eager to visit her relative who shared a miraculous pregnancy.
Did Mary go alone on such a long trip? Did she connect with a caravan heading south? Luke doesn’t tell us, so it must not be important. What is important is what happened when she got there. Finally, she appeared unannounced in the aged couple’s doorway. “And [Mary] entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth” (v40).
John Leaping
We are not given the details of Mary’s salutation (greeting), but it was enough to cause John to leap. “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb” (v41). Apparently, John responded even before Elisabeth did!
The question is, why did John leap? There may be two reasons. First, there was a prophet in Elisabeth’s womb, and this was his first “prophecy.” Recall that Zacharias was told that their son would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb (v15). The Holy Spirit prompted this leaping. It appears that Mary had already conceived, for Elisabeth calls her “the mother of my Lord” (v43), not “the soon-to-be mother of my Lord.” Therefore, John leaped in the presence of the One he would have the privilege of introducing to the nation of Israel.
The second reason he leaped is given by Elisabeth herself: “For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy” (v44). Incredibly, John was overcome with joy while still in the womb of his mother.
We should pause here for a moment and notice these details about an unborn baby given to us by Dr. Luke. He refers to John in the womb of Elisabeth as a “baby” (vv41,44). The same Greek word (brephos) is used in the next chapter (2:12,16) to refer to the recently born Jesus in the manger. Whether in or out of the womb, it’s a baby, a human life. Scripture makes no distinction. We live in a world stained by the blood of tens of millions of innocent unborn children. Abortion is deemed acceptable, even preferable, to a society bound and determined to reduce the population as well as our carbon footprint. Many attempt to quell their consciences on the subject by referring to the “embryo” or “fetal tissue” or even the “clump of cells” in the womb. But Scripture is clear: At the moment of conception, a new human life begins. It’s possible someone reading this made the decision to abort a baby sometime in your past. Please know that God’s grace is big enough to embrace you. “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. … If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:7,9).
Observe again that Dr. Luke ascribes the emotion of joy to this unborn baby, for Elisabeth said, “The babe leaped in my womb for joy” (v44). If we question her words, please note that she said this while “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v41).2 John was not a mere clump of cells but a human being, able to feel and express joy while in his mother’s womb.
Elisabeth Shouting
It was probably only seconds later. John leaped, but then Elisabeth shouted: “And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (v42). Perhaps part of Mary’s greeting included the news received from Gabriel, and this is how Elisabeth knew about “the fruit of [her] womb.” Or maybe Zacharias was busy at the writing tablet with the Scriptures opened, communicating to her that, based on the prophetic Word, the Messiah must be arriving soon. We are not told. But she loudly exclaimed how blessed among women Mary was for the privilege of bearing “the mother of my Lord” (v43). At a minimum, her use of the expression “my Lord” indicates that Elisabeth recognized that Mary’s child would be the promised Messiah (cf. Psa 110:1). But Luke may be emphasizing for his readers a claim to Christ’s deity here. After all, he uses “Lord” in verse 16 to refer to John’s work of turning many in Israel “to the Lord their God.” Luke likely wants us to conclude that, yes, Jesus is “the Lord.”
Elisabeth not only spoke of Mary’s blessing but that of the child within her: “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” The child Mary bore was special and was the reason why Mary was blessed for being His chosen vessel.
But let’s not miss the third use of the word “blessed” on Elisabeth’s lips: “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord” (v45). Mary was not only blessed for bearing but blessed for believing, something Elisabeth’s husband failed to do (v20). Later, during the public ministry of her Son, a woman in the crowd shouted and said to the Lord Jesus, “Blessed is the womb that bare thee … But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luk 11:27-28). Mary fell into this latter and more significant category of blessing also, believing and obeying the Word of God.
We close by pointing out some practical lessons from Mary’s visit with Elisabeth. First, notice the fellowship enjoyed. Here were two women, separated by a significant age gap. One was a teenager and the other “well stricken in years” (v18). Yet there was fellowship, openness, respect and love for one another. What an example today to foster fellowship across each generation. Like Mary, we should not hesitate to spend time with senior saints, especially those who share the same trust in God’s Word. R. Kent Hughes helpfully wrote, “Like Mary, we must make a priority of being with those who share the mutual experience of miraculous new life within.”3
Second, observe the encouragement offered. Elisabeth not only praised Mary for her faith (“blessed is she that believed”) but encouraged her that God would come through on His promises (“for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord”). Elisabeth serves as a model for how to encourage younger believers.
Finally, we can appreciate the humility expressed. Elisabeth had been greatly blessed, given her Sarah-like situation. But a greater blessing was given to Mary, and she rejoiced in that blessing. Not a trace of envy was evident. She epitomized Romans 12:15, rejoicing with those who rejoice. May the Lord give us young believers with the faith of a Mary, but pray also that the Lord will grant us senior saints with the encouragement of an Elisabeth.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
2 Notice the role of the Holy Spirit in Luke’s infancy narratives of John and the Lord Jesus (1:15,35,41,67; 2:25,26,27).
3 R. Kent Hughes, Luke Volume One: That You May Know the Truth (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 45.
