Baby Announcement - Take 2

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting June 18 to study Luke 1:26-45.  This is the announcement to Mary, which is different in many ways from the one made to Zachariah previously in this chapter.

This is one of the most familiar passages in Scripture because we spend so much time with it during Christmas.  We like to read how the angel appeared to Mary, as well as Joseph.  So that will make harder to find the things that seem strange.  There are a few though, one of which is the differences between this announcement and the previous one to Zachariah.  Even so, it will be difficult for familiarity to not breed some level of 'contempt'.

Read it through, jot down notes, come up with some questions that occur to you.  Be sure to use several translations and look up differences in word choice.  Then go to commentaries and see what they think.  After having done that, then go back through with the questions below:

• Look up a Jewish calendar, and see when their year started, and see when 'sixth month' would have been.  So what would nine months after that have been?
• The timing of the announcement of John isn't given.  Why do you think it would be important to give the timing of this announcement?  Or do you think this timing is tied to the first?
• What do you think of the difference in greeting between Gabriel to Zachariah and then to Mary?  What sort of 'greeting' was there to Zachariah?
• Mary is startled, but what does it sound like to you that she was most aware of when she sees Gabriel?
• After the greeting and her response, the rest sounds a lot like the announcement to Zachariah (with some obvious necessary differences).  But what do you think about the 'tone' of the two announcements.  Do you think there are or detect any difference in tone between the two?
• Mary asks how these things 'might be' since she's still a virgin.  This question doesn't bring any punishment.  What differences, if any, do you see between her response and Zachariah's?
• The word 'overshadow' is a compound word made up of 'over' and 'darken'; which makes sense. But what do you think of the irony that the coming of the Light of the World at first darkens Mary's?
• Mary doesn't ask for a 'sign' but the angel gives one anyway (Elizabeth), why do you think Zachariah was wrong then to ask for one?
• The angel points out that Elizabeth was in her sixth month, so was the first 'sixth month' the timing within the year, or after the previous events described (i.e. Elizabeth becoming pregnant).  Consider that it may be possible that her husband's temple visitation may have occurred as part of the New Year as well.  What do you think?
• The phrase of verse 37 is '...because every word beside God not powerless." But it could also be, "...because every word not powerless beside God." There is a slight difference in meaning.  Which do you think is intended?
• Consider Mary's response to all that Gabriel said.  How much do you think her response had to do with the last phrase of Gabriel?
• Mary goes to see Elizabeth in Judah.  Find Nazareth on a map, and then trace down to Judah.  We're not told where in Judah they were, but still, Mary is walking.  What does this tell you about how Mary feels about what she was told?
• Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit when she hears Mary.  Previously it was said that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit still in the womb, and he leaps when he hears Mary.  Why would Elizabeth only be filled now, not before when John was filled before?  Or do you think he was?
• Consider what Elizabeth says carefully.  What is it really that makes Mary 'blessed' or 'happy'?  Why do you think that is?  Why wouldn't it be the fact/event itself?

That should keep us going for a bit.  I was going to do fewer questions, but more came to mind, sorry...sort of.