Please read the passage before the commentary.
We call this account the visitation, but we should ask who is visiting whom. Two mothers meet and each is pregnant. From appearances, the mothers are meeting, but the mystery is saying that the two infants are visiting each other. The infant in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy having sensed somehow the presence of God in the other mother’s womb.
It is not uncommon for infants in the womb to move about in ways that the mother can experience. Luke, however, takes carefully notes that the action of John in Elizabeth’s womb because of the infant present in Mary’s womb.
It is true that the journey to visit was prompted by the angel’s word to Mary in the previous episode. It is also true that the purpose of Mary’s visit was to help Elizabeth. It is also true that God could easily have brought the two boys together. It is the mystery of the Prophet and the one who was coming after the prophet.
Luke describes the going to the hill country of Judea as a joyful procession. The mother travelled in haste. This reminds me of the joyful procession of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem in the time of King David (2 Samuel 7). The Ark of the Covenant carried the Word of God given to Moses. The womb of Mary carried the Word of God made flesh. When God’s word travels, it is good news.
“How beautiful on the mountains,” Isaiah exclaimed (52:1), “are the feet of the messenger announcing peace.” The good news is afoot in the hill country of Judea, as Marh makes haste to her cousin in Judea.
The gospel can inspire us, or challenge us, to go in haste to our hill countries to bring the Lord to visit his people.