Read the Passage: Luke 1:26-80

Gabriel’s Announcement (1:26–38)

This passage begins with the news that God sent the angel Gabriel to visit Mary “in the sixth month” (Luke 1:26), which refers to the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy (cf. Luke 1:36). Gabriel’s greeting to Mary is, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). Note that in Scripture the term “highly favored” is only used here and at Eph. 1:6, where it is translated “accepted” and refers to redeemed believers. This is why Gabriel calls Mary “blessed” (Luke 1:28) and says she has “found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). In other words, Mary had faith in God and was “accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6). Yet, Gabriel’s appearance, and specifically his greeting, troubled Mary (cf. Luke 1:29). In Luke 1:30–33, Gabriel explained to Mary the purpose of his visit was to announce to her that she would give birth to the Messiah, who was to be named Jesus.

Observe the similarities between the appearance of Gabriel to Zacharias and his visit to Mary: both Zacharias and Mary were troubled (cf. Luke 1:12, 29), both Zacharias and Mary were told not to fear (cf. Luke 1:13, 30), both Zacharias and Mary were told about an impending miraculous birth (cf. Luke 1:13–17, 31–33), and both Zacharias and Mary questioned the message (cf. Luke 1:18, 34). Given these similarities, one might expect Mary to be rendered mute, as was Zacharias. Yet, although Zacharias and Mary each questioned Gabriel with nearly the exact same words, Mary’s inquiry clearly arose from a heart of faith, while Zacharias’ question was born out of a heart filled with doubt. Indeed, once Gabriel explained how she would miraculously conceive, Mary humbly responded, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Mary’s Visit (1:39–56)

Gabriel told Mary about Elizabeth’s pregnancy (cf. Luke 1:36), which would have been news to her since “Elizabeth [had] hid herself five months” (Luke 1:24). Therefore, Mary went to visit Elizabeth. When Mary greeted Elizabeth “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41). Observe that since John’s ministry was to announce the coming of the Lord (cf. Luke 1:17), John actually began his ministry before he was even born! Elizabeth’s declaration to Mary in Luke 1:42–45 is unique in that: she called Mary and Jesus blessed (cf. Luke 1:42), she confessed that Jesus is Lord (cf. Luke 1:43), she recognized that Jesus brought John joy (cf. Luke 1:44), and she even praised Mary’s faith in light of Gabriel’s message (cf. Luke 1:45). Observe Paul’s later teaching, “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3).

Luke 1:46–56 contains what has become known as Mary’s Magnificat, so-called because the term “Magnificat” is the first word in the Latin translation of this passage. There are two main sections to the Magnificat. First, in Luke 1:46–49, Mary praises God for His specific work in her life. A well-known verse in this passage is Mary’s observation that “all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). The idea here is not that others would praise Mary because she was immaculate, or because she would soon give birth to Jesus; rather, Mary believed others would recognize she was blessed, for—in her own words—she had been “lowly” (Luke 1:48) but now she had a “Savior” (Luke 1:47; cf. Luke 6:20–23). Second, in Luke 1:50–55, Mary praises God for His general work among mankind, including His mercy (cf. Luke 1:50), His strength (cf. Luke 1:51–52), and His provision (cf. Luke 1:53–55).

John’s Birth (1:57–80)

Luke 1:57–80 returns to and concludes the narrative that began in the first half of this chapter regarding the birth of John the Baptist. John 1:57–66 describes events relating to the birth of John. When John was born, the friends and family of Elizabeth “rejoiced with her” (Luke 1:58). When it was time to circumcise John on the eighth day, she declared, “He shall be called John” (Luke 1:60). Surely, during her pregnancy Zacharias had revealed to Elizabeth the details about his visit from Gabriel as he was serving in the temple, thus she knew to call her son John, even though it was not a family name (cf. Luke 1:61). When Zacharias was asked about the name for the boy, he wrote on a tablet, “His name is John” (Luke 1:63). Immediately, Zacharias’ was loosed from his muteness and began to praise God, uttering the prophecy about John that is recorded in Luke 1:67–80.

Application Questions:

1. Why do Matthew and Luke begin with details about Jesus’ birth, whereas Mark and John begin with the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry?
2. How can we explain the reaction of believers in Scripture—including Zacharias and Mary—when angels appear?
3. Given the parallels between Zacharias’ and Mary’s interactions with Gabriel, how can we explain the differing outcomes?
4. Why would Mary have traveled to visit Elizabeth? What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
5. How can Mary’s Magnificat serve as a model for all believers? Does your life reflect the blessedness you have in Christ?