45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
After receiving the news that she would be with child and that He would be called the Son of the Most High, Mary hurries to visit her cousin Elizabeth whom, the angel had informed Mary, was also great with child in her old age. How very precious of God to give Mary “flesh and bones” to talk to! Don’t you know she was terrified over the angel’s announcement? Not only does he give her someone to whisper with, he states that Elizabeth also is expecting adding: “for nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
I love the wording in Luke 1:39:
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, Luke 1:39 (NIV)
The words rendered “got ready” in the NIV is the Greek word “Anistemi” meaning to stand again! The news she had just received had certainly swept her off her feet! Ever been there - received news that simply took you off your feet and left you flat? Me too! Mary gives us insight into “next steps”! She hurries off to validate the message by going to Elizabeth to see if what the angel had said was true.
As soon as Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting the baby within her womb leaps and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit:
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41 (NIV)
Then Elizabeth states these precious words through the anointing of the Holy Spirit:
42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Luke 1:42-44 (NIV)
Now that’s validity! That proclamation must have taken her breath away too! Elizabeth’s last line is our verse for today: 45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" Luke 1:45 (NIV)
The word rendered “blessed” is the Greek word “Makarios” meaning “blessed, blissful – Biblically, one is pronounced blessed when God is present and involved in his life. The hand of God is at work directing all his affairs for a divine purpose, and thus, in a sense, such a person lives coram Deo, before the face of God. Blessedness is sharing in the life of God, being favorably affected and influenced by God.” (NT Lexical Aids – Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible) – We would do well to remember that we indeed abide “coram Deo” – before the face of God – perhaps it would affect our behavior!
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Heb 4:13 (NIV)
The word rendered “believed” is the Greek word “Pisteuo” meaning to have faith in, to trust in. Often when the word “trust” is used in the Old Testament it is the Hebrew word “Batah” which means “to attach oneself – to feel safe, confident and secure” (OT lexical Aids – Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible) – I love that because it is such a great word picture! I can envision myself holding so tightly to Jesus that I leave a mark! In all actuality, that is how He holds us!!
The word rendered “accomplished” is the Greek word “Teleiosis” meaning “the act of completion, successful effort, or fulfillment; also the state or attainment of perfection.” I love that – what God says, that will He do – to perfection (one of my favorite words!). Mary believed what the Lord had told her would be accomplished to perfection and she indeed was blessed! A good lesson for all of us to learn! We can take His promises to the bank! May we be found as faithful as Mary!