Making Total Commitment

This lesson takes us to a moment marked by tenderness and worship. It revolves the spontaneous praise directed to God by the Virgin Mary. (Luke 1:36), she traveled from Nazareth of Galilee to an unnamed village in the hill countryof Judea (Luke 1:39). What we have in our leesson text is Mary's song of praise directed to God as she celbrated His power and deeds. Mary wholeheartedly commited herself to the purpose of God for her life.

Like his collegue Matthew, Luke related the circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth (compare Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-18 with Luke 2:1-40). The Holy Spirit directed luke to include details Matthew omitted. Our lesson is an excellent example of this process. Based upon the direction of the angel Gabriel, Mary was directed to travel to an unamed village in the Judean hill county to visit her relative, Elisabeth. Elisabeth eas six months pregnant. She bore in her womb John the Baptist (Luke 1:13, 60, 63). Upon arrival at Elisabeth's home, Mary sang praises to God. The praise she sang comes down to us as the "Magnificat."