Luke 1:41-45

Luke 1:41 (KJB)
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

The sound of Mary’s greeting had reached the ears of John in the womb and that caused him to leap in the womb of Elisabeth. The word in the Greek for “leaped” carries with it the meaning of “jump joyously.” This is probably where we derived the common saying of “jump for joy.” (Luke 6:23 KJV) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. It is the same word used in Luke 6:23 for “leap for joy.” Both Elisabeth and John were indwelled and filled with the Holy Ghost. This filling caused John to recognize who Jesus was even before both of them were born. Elisabeth had received the spirit of prophecy because she knew that the Messiah was conceived in Mary. (Rev 19:10 KJV) And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Luke 1:42 (KJB)
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

As the Holy Spirit had given Elisabeth spiritual understanding of the events, she began to pronounce a blessing upon Mary, a very loud blessing so all in the house heard it. She stated that Mary was blessed highly among all the Jewish woman because she was the one who was chosen to bring the Messiah into the world. Not only did Elisabeth proclaim that Mary was blessed but also the fruit of her womb, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ who was now growing in her womb. This pronouncement that Jesus was blessed is a fulfillment of the six blessings which would be upon the Messiah from Isaiah 11:2. (Isa 11:2 KJV) And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; It is a shame the Roman Catholic Church has turned this verse into a prayer to Mary. It is an abomination. Mary was a sister in the Lord like every true born again Christian. She had the privilege of bringing the Messiah into the world but that did not make her divine or co-Redemptrix in salvation. Salvation comes only through Christ and not Mary.

Luke 1:43 (KJB)
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Now Elisabeth asks Mary a question. Basically, she asks, how is she worthy to have the mother of her Lord pay her a visit? The Holy Spirit had given Elisabeth some understanding of what was happening with Mary. At this point Mary did not tell Elisabeth any of the details concerning her dialog with Gabriel. Elisabeth saw this visit as a great privilege and did not have any envy that Mary was chosen to bring the Messiah into the world. From this verse, the Roman Catholic Church created the term “Mother of God” which they applied to Mary. Unfortunately, the Roman Catholic Church declared Mary to be a perpetual virgin in 553 A.D. This is in violation of Scripture which plainly states that after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph had their own children together. (Mark 6:3 KJV) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Luke 1:44 (KJB)
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

Then Elisabeth had related to Mary that as soon as she received the greeting from her that the baby had leaped in her womb. The miracle continued here as one unborn baby had the ability to bless another unborn baby. John was already sanctified in the womb. Elisabeth knew that this greeting and meeting was much more than just natural.

Luke 1:45 (KJB)
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Elisabeth then commended Mary for believing that God would fulfill His promise in all that was told to her by Gabriel. Her submission to the will of God was a major element in the incarnation of Christ. Everything which the Lord had promised her through Gabriel will come to pass in the Lord’s timing. One of the principles here is that the fact that Mary brought forth the Messiah is actually ancillary to the fact that she believed in Him. Elisabeth had commended the faith and humility of Mary throughout this entire event. Elisabeth too had great faith in the Lord because she confirms to Mary that all that the Lord said will come to pass.

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