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Following this wonderful revelation of the Divine purpose in which Mary
was chosen to play a unique part, the angel in condescending grace refers to
Elisabeth 'who was called barren', that she had conceived a son in her old
age, adding, 'For with God nothing shall be impossible' (Luke 1:37), and Mary
would immediately hark back to another woman who was so old as to be 'as good
as dead', namely Sarah, concerning whom the Lord said:
'Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will
return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a
son' (Gen. 18:14).
Her attention having been directed to Elisabeth's condition, Mary arose
with haste and entered into the house of her cousin, and it came to pass that
the unborn babe 'leaped in her womb', and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy
Ghost, referring to Mary, her cousin as 'the mother of my Lord' (Luke 1:39-
45). In response, Mary burst into the song known among us as the Magnificat,
to which, as also to the prophetic song of Zacharias we must now pay
attention.
The prophetic songs of Mary and Zacharias (Luke 1:46-80)
The first chapter of Luke's Gospel contains not only the angel's visit
and declaration regarding John the Baptist and of Jesus the Christ, but
includes three inspired hymns, one by Elisabeth, one by Mary, and one by
Zacharias. If we ignore chapter divisions, we could include the hymn
of praise uttered by the herald angels, the blessing pronounced by old
Simeon, and the reference to a note of thanksgiving made by the prophetess
Anna. These hymns are divided by explanatory matter, and the whole passage
can be set out as follows:
Luke 1:36 to 2:40
A
Luke
Mary goes from Nazareth to house of Elisabeth.
1:36-40. 'This is the sixth month with her'.
B
1:42-45.
Elisabeth's Psalm.
C
1:41-44.
The babe.
B
1:46-55.
Mary's Psalm.
A
1:56,57.
Mary abode about three months.
'Elisabeth's full time came ... a son'.
B
1:67-79.
Zacharias' Psalm.
C
1:80.
The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit.
A
2:1-7.
Joseph and Mary leave Nazareth for Bethlehem.
'The days were accomplished ...
she brought forth her firstborn Son'.
B
2:10-14.
The Psalm of the angels.
A
2:15-19.
Shepherds go to Bethlehem.
'The Babe lying in a manger'.