Mary Visits Elizabeth
Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, who is now six months along in her pregnancy. During the ministry of her son, John’s role was to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. And here, even in the womb, on hearing the voice of his Lord’s mother, John begins to act as a prophet by jumping with gladness. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth correctly interprets the movement in her womb, and unreservedly joins in with her own greeting of praise and acknowledgment of her younger relative's superior role.
Luke states that Elizabeth is a relative of Mary’s. Since her husband, Zechariah, was a priest, both he and his wife must have been from the tribe of Levi. Mary’s husband, Joseph, was from the tribe of Judah; indeed from the family of David. There was a widespread belief at this time that the Messiah could come from either the tribe of Levi or of Judah, or perhaps there would even be two Messiahs. Luke seems to be reflecting a view that Jesus, in himself, incorporates both of these possibilities - Levite descent through his mother, Davidic through her husband.