seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Mary's song really shows Mary's understanding of what was going on. She really understands that although Her Son will not be born near the throne room in a castle. She knows He will be someone special. She also knows she is "chosen" and there is no way out.Not many years ago, I heard a Sunday School Lesson about this. See, in the Old Testament, they didn't take being pregnant out of wedlock lightly. One example of what they did to little girls who got pregnant is found at Genesis 38:24.
Genesis 38:24 About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.”
Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!”
Tamar was Judah's daughter in law. When her husband died, Judah assigned another son to take his place, but that one died too. Judah refused to give her another husband, so she snuck into his tent and got herself pregnant. He didn't take it too lightly, as you see. He didn't know the baby was his. He ordered her demise. That's what they did with women back then. They didn't want their women mixing the "seed". Women could be bought and sold. They had no say. Women supplied the workforce. The more sons a man had, the more work that could be done, the wealthier the family. Women were breeders.
We already know that Zechariah was a priest. The way it was told to me, since Elizabeth and Zechariah accepted Mary's pregnancy, then Mary's life was spared. I appreciated the "drama" of the story, even though it taught me the priests would sometimes bend the rules for family. If Mary hadn't been Elizabeth's cousin, and she showed up pregnant while betrothed to Joseph.... she would have been put to death.
OK... Elizabeth's baby jumped in the womb when Mary spoke. So... according to "normal" pregnancies, Elizabeth was between 13 and 20 weeks.
We learned that Elizabeth hid her pregnancy for about five months [20 weeks]. Mary went to see Elizabeth right after she learned she was pregnant with Jesus.
So, Mary stayed with Elizabeth and Zechariah for about three months.
Mary was in mortal danger, right?
