August 10, 2011 – Luke 1:39 - 1:66

In verse 45, do we think Elizabeth knew why her husband was mute. Is this calling out a reaction or converse to her husband’s unbelief.

In verse 48, what does it mean when Mary says all generations will call me Blessed. Is there anyone else in the Bible that says, people will call me Blessed. Jesus allows people to adore Him and call Him Lord, but anywhere else in the Bible, does a person say, all generations will call me Blessed. So when Catholics reflect on the Blessed Virgin Mary, that appears to be completely biblical.

I found it interesting that it says people were talking about John after all these events and wondered what he would become. We don’t know exactly when he started his ministry, but we know he was martyred around the age of 30, towards that beginning of Christ ministry. I wonder what the attitude was of those around him that knew about his birth. They probably wanted great things for him, much like people thought Christ was going to do, and were probably confused and disappointed when he decided to live his life in the desert.

I also find it interesting that John is born into a family of a Priest, someone of authority in the community, someone probably very well known. That would allow the story of his birth to stay more familiar to them. Christ, on the other hand, was born to a carpenter. Not only that, but he was born away from where His parents lived, then went to Egypt. The tale of His birth was witnessed by peasant shepherds, not important people who would be friends of the priest, and the wise men who were from a different land. Christ birth story would have been forgotten or not even known by the time His ministry starts. Even being lost in the Temple is a brief few days away from home. Many in the Temple would forget, many at their home would never have known. God went out of His way to allow Christ a humble beginning and even the miraculous parts were only witnessed by those that would either not be believed or did not have much influence. Thus, Christ comes into the world very quietly, where as John, who is one to wake the people up and get them ready for Jesus, comes into an important family among people of power and in a miraculous way.