When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb.
Lk 1: 39-45
From G. B. CAIRD
When Elizabeth and Mary met, the unborn
herald leaped for joy to greet his unborn Lord. We cannot but remember that in
later life John was by no means certain that Jesus was 'the Coming One' whose
way he had been sent to prepare (7:18). This is idealized history, in which
Luke is describing not the actual historical relationship between the two men
but the prenatal relationship which existed in the predestining purpose of God.
We must exercise a similar .caution with
regard to the Magnificat of Mary. Our inclination is to agree with Elizabeth
and call Mary the most blessed among women. But another woman who called Mary
blessed met with a rebuke from Jesus (11:27-28), which is also a rebuke to all
sentimentality. Mary was not blessed because of any special understanding that
she had for the mission of her son; for she and the rest of her family
understood him as little as John did (2:50; cf. Mark 3:21. 31-35). Her blessedness consisted
simply in this, that, having been chosen for special service and having
received an amazing promise, she believed that there would be a fulfillment of
what was spoken to her from the Lord.
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