The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 45

we hBve before us two lowly women, deep In their self-abasement. The self-righteous Apirit hBB been annihilated within them, and they are thus fitted to be God's instru- mouts, Secondly, we find them maintaining this beautiful spirit after they have become the special objects of the Divine favour. Grace does not spoil them, but pro- vokes within them gratitude. They abound in praise, not in pride. Thirdly, they enter into hopes for their people and the world, ae well as for themselves. It is so with real Ohristians. They become of necessity large-hearted. The inspirations received lead to outbursts of joyful anticipation for all the world. The BBsertion of Luke that MBry returned home (ver. 66) does not necessarily Imply that she did not wait for John's birth BDd circumcision, The probabilities are in favour of supposing that she did so wait, and received the additional consolations which the song of Zacharias was so fitted to bring. Strengthened by her long visit to Elisabeth, she would be the better able to go back to Nazareth and brave all suspicion there. God, by a special communi- cation, made Joseph's suspicion altogether to cease, and Mary was taken by Lim as wife, instead of being privately divorced. The Virgin's trust in God smoothing her way was thus gloriously fulfilled (Matt. i. 18-25), and she found herself passing onwards upon a path of peace towards that signal influence and power which she has exercised among men.-R. M. E. Vere. 57-80.-The birth and development of the Baptist. We now pass from the inspirations of the holy women to the birth of the Baptist. We have before us what one has well denominated "a pious family in their good fortune." 1 As this preacher observes, we have here "the mother in her joy, the father with his song of praise, and the little child and his development." We cannot do better than allow our thoughts to group themselves round these,three persons in this order. I. CoNTEMPLATE THE MOTHER IN HER JOY. (Vera. 57-63.) A mother with a firstborn son embodies as much joy as we can well imagine in a world like this. All pain and anguish over and forgotten in the mighty fruition (cf. John xvi. 21). Next there would be messages sent to friends, "neighbours and cousins," who wonld be expected to call with congratulations. And they gave their congratulations without stint-" They rejoiced with her." Next ea.me the circumcision and the naming of the child, and the idea. of the neigh hours was that they could not do better than ca.11 him "Zacharias," i.e. "one whom Jehovah remembers," after bis priestly fat.her. But the joyful mother has a new name to give her son, and, though none of her ancestors have borne it, he must be called "John," which, as already noticed, signifies "Jehovah giveth grace." The new name is to herald the nature of the dispen8atiun. The friends are not satisfied, however, until they consult the dumb fa.the.. 'l'hey accordingly make signs to him how he would have him called, and he, with most serious delibera- tion, wrote on the tablet," His name is John." It was a revelation to the neighbours, and they took it as such, and "marvelled all." The joyful mother had thus the satis- faction of seeing her first.born son introduced to the Jewish Church by the rite of circumcision, and receiving a name which was itself a promise of g.reat grace from God. What a joy it should be to parents to have their little chil<lren thus early introduced into the Church of God, and identified with its brightening prospects I II. CONTEMPLATE THE FATHER PRAISING Goo. (Vera. 64, 67-79.) The dumb priest now regains his speech, and no sooner is his mouth opened than he bursts into praise. Doubtless he praised God for his judgment on himself and for his mercy in the gift of the goodly child. He was able then to sing of both (cf. Ps. ci. 1). Moreover, the Holy Spirit as a Spirit of prophecy filled him, so that his praise took the bec1utiful poetic form here given. And this song of Zacharias divides itself into two portions-- first, the establishment of the theocracy under Messiah (vers. 67-75); and secondly, the apostrophe to the little child about his part in the work of reformation (vers. 75-79). To these let us devote a few thoughts. 1. The establishment of tht: theocracy under Messiah. As a priest, Zacharias naturally looked at the new movement from an ecclesiastical and patriotic point of view. Hence he praised God for the deliverance of his people through raising up a horn for them in the house of his servant David. Thia horn, the symbol of" might,'' is the Messiah who is to be born of Mary. But what 111Llvation is it to be? In the usual Jewish spirit, he speaks of it as a salvation from. 1 Cf. Gerok'1 'Ev11ngelion-Predigten,1 bBnd i. e. 50-1.  88 TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, LUKE. [en, 1. 1-80.