Zechariah’s Song of Salvation
We've been focusing on Mary, but let’s circle back to Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah. Remember him? He was the priest who, earlier in the story, doubted the angel Gabriel’s promise that his aged wife, Elizabeth, would conceive a son (John the Baptist). Because of his doubt, he was struck speechless until the child was born.
For nine months, Zechariah was forced into a profound, disciplinary silence. Imagine having the greatest news in the world to share yet not being able to utter a single word! But on the day his son was born and named "John," his tongue was finally loosed.
And what was the first thing he did? He sang!
Magnifying the Lord
Yesterday, we left off with Elizabeth blessing Mary. After that powerful moment of confirmation, Mary breaks into one of the most famous hymns of praise in Scripture, often called the Magnificat (from the Latin word for "magnify").
This prayer of Mary’s, found in Luke 1:46-55 (KJV), is not just a polite thank-you note to God; it’s a radical, prophetic song of worship that reveals a deep, Old Testament-rooted faith. She starts with this simple, powerful declaration: "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord."
What does it mean to "magnify" the Lord?
The Joyful Witness of Elizabeth
One of the most encouraging scenes in the entire Christmas story isn't about angels or shepherds; it’s about two women sharing a moment of pure, Holy Ghost-filled fellowship. This is the story of Mary visiting her cousin, Elizabeth, right after Mary received her impossible news.
Mary was likely confused, possibly scared, and certainly needed confirmation that she hadn't just imagined the angel Gabriel. Where did she go? To the only person also experiencing a miraculous pregnancy in her old age: Elizabeth.
The Character of Joseph
Yesterday we talked about Mary's brave "yes," but the Christmas story would have quickly fallen apart without the quiet, profound faith of another hero: Joseph. Poor Joseph! He receives the shocking news from Mary and then has to figure out how to respond. His character is a template for how we should handle unexpected, life-altering situations.
The Bible tells us that when he found out Mary was pregnant, he was a "just man" (Matthew 1:19, KJV). Because he was just, he knew he couldn’t marry her, but because he was also compassionate, he didn’t want to subject her to public shame or punishment. He decided to put her away "privily"—quietly, with dignity.
Joseph’s first instinct was to do the right thing gently
Mary’s Radical ‘Yes’
When we talk about Mary, the mother of Jesus, we often focus on her purity or her central role in the Nativity. But what truly inspires me about her is her courage. She was just a young girl when the angel Gabriel appeared and presented a life-altering, reputation-shattering, impossible plan to her.
Imagine being told something that seems utterly insane, yet you know, deep in your soul, that it’s the truth of God. That’s where Mary was. Her response is one of the most powerful displays of trust in the entire Bible.
After hearing that she would conceive a child by the Holy Ghost—a virgin birth!—she didn’t argue, she didn’t run, and she didn’t even ask for a sign like Zechariah did. She simply said, in Luke 1:38 (KJV): "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."