Rejoice in Security
December 19, 2004 - Luke 1:39-45
Open It
What was the first trip you can remember taking by yourself?
What relative do you look forward to visiting the most?
What benefits have you derived from personal relationships with older people?
Explore It
To where did Mary hurry? (1:39)
What two remarkable things happened as soon as Mary called her greeting to Elizabeth? (1:41)
What was the significance of the baby leaping at the sound of Mary's voice? (1:41, 44)
How did Elizabeth respond to the baby's leaping inside her? (1:42-45)
In what way was Mary blessed? (1:42)
Why did Elizabeth describe herself as "favored"? (1:43)
In what significant way did Elizabeth address Mary? (1:43)
Why did Elizabeth's baby leap in her womb? (1:44)
Who was blessed? (1:45)
What general spiritual principle did Elizabeth express? (1:45)
Get It
In what ways could we describe both Mary and Elizabeth as "blessed" women?
How did Elizabeth indicate that she knew what her and Mary's pregnancies meant?
How would you describe the mood in Zechariah's home during the time Mary visited?
Judging from Elizabeth's experience, what is it like to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
How does it feel to be genuinely complimented by someone older than you?
What significance do you think it had for Mary that Elizabeth knew the importance of Mary's baby?
Apply It
What older Christian could you contact or visit this week to express appreciation for the help he or she has been to you?
For what work of God do you want to celebrate or praise Him?
Notes
Luke 1:41-43: Apparently the Holy Spirit told Elizabeth that Mary's child was the Messiah because Elizabeth called her young relative "the mother of my Lord" as she greeted her. As Mary rushed off to visit her relative, she must have been wondering if the events of the last few days were real. Elizabeth's greeting must have strengthened her faith. Mary's pregnancy may have seemed impossible, but her wise relative believed in the Lord's faithfulness and rejoiced in Mary's blessed condition.
Luke 1:42-43: Even though she herself was pregnant with a long-awaited son, Elizabeth could have envied Mary, whose son would be even greater than her own. Instead she was filled with joy that the mother of her Lord would visit her.