Mary and Elizabeth

Mary and Elizabeth. As we continue our devotional series on Mary the Mother of Jesus, in this devotional we will look at Mary's conversation with Elizabeth.

39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Luke 1:39-45, NKJV

Mary and Elizabeth. As we continue our devotional series on Mary the Mother of Jesus, in this devotional we will look at Mary's conversation with Elizabeth.

Mary and Elizabeth - Greetings

The angel Gabriel, in his conversation with Mary, confirmed to her that her cousin, Elizabeth, was also pregnant.

36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Luke 1:36-37, NKJV

I am sure that Mary could hardly wait to visit with Elizabeth. And what a meeting it turned out to be! When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting her baby leaped in her womb. This must have been out of the ordinary, for those of us who have had the blessing of bearing children know how active a little one can already be in our 6th month of pregnancy. John the Baptist, still in his mother's womb recognized that he was in the presence of the Messiah.

Mary and Elizabeth - Elizabeth's Greeting

Look at the response of Elizabeth as given in Luke 1.

41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy."

Already blood relatives, the lives of these two women were linked for all eternity. One mother carried God's promised messenger and the other carried God's promised Messiah. Just two ordinary women--one a virgin having never known a man and the other in her old age.

Nothing is impossible with God. He who created the the universe had no difficulty impregnating a woman by the Holy Spirit or miraculously causing a woman in her old age to conceive and give birth to a son.

Neither is it hard to imagine that these two children recognized one another even while in their mother's womb.

Elizabeth then responds by giving a blessing to Mary. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

In our day many would like to say that Mary was perfect or divine. We must be very careful that we do not add to the Word of God. Mary was an ordinary woman just as we woman today are ordinary. But, she was chosen by God to carry the Lord Jesus Christ. Recognizing this, Elizabeth pronounced a blessing upon her.

Mary and Elizabeth - God's Confirmation

Backing up a little, let us think of how this must have felt to Mary. First an angel appears to her and announces that even though she is a virgin she is going to have a child through the Holy Spirit. And then she was told that Elizabeth, though in her old age, was also to have a son. It must have seemed surreal.

In response Mary hurries over to her cousin Elizabeth. At this point in time, she probably would feel no difference in her body to recognize the symptoms of pregnancy. Many women do not even know that they are pregnant in the first month of their pregnancy. Yet look at the words of Elizabeth. She must have been overwhelmed by that point. God then, in His great love and grace, gave Mary an added confirmation through the worlds of Elizabeth.

45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

God not only spoke to Mary through the angel Gabriel, but He also gave confirmation of His plans through the words of Elizabeth. Elizabeth said that there would be a fulfillment of these things which were told her from the Lord.

What a gracious God we serve. Knowing how incredible this must all have seemed to Mary, He not only delivered a message to her but also confirmed it through Elizabeth.

Mary and Elizabeth - Thoughts to Ponder

You will probably note, that I am reluctant to convey thoughts or intents of a Bible character if they are not given to us in the text. Even so, there are so many lessons to us in this relationship between Mary and Elizabeth.

I remember that during my pregnancies, I was always drawn closer to those who were also pregnant or had just given birth. Pregnancy is such an extraordinary and special time in a woman's life. Just imagine knowing that a whole new person is being knitted together by God in our own body!

13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:13-14, ESV

There is even, however, a greater lesson for us to learn from Mary and Elizabeth. To their friends and neighbors they were just like everyone else. No special glow or light surrounded them to show that they were different.

The lesson to us is always the same. God uses the ordinary people of this life to do his will.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

1 Corinthians 1:27, KJV

Dear friend, look to God to give you meaning in this life. The trappings of this world: wealth, power, and fame, are meaningless in the kingdom of God. Let us find our identity in Christ. Through Christ we have been brought into the very presence of God. Christ's blood has washed our sins away!

In Christ we have have a purpose and are filled with joy and peace. This world is not our final home. We are just journeying through this life on our way to the eternal joy of heaven.

Let us not be filled with fear over our present circumstances, like Mary and Elizabeth most certainly could have been. Whether it be poverty, sickness (even Coronavirus [I am writing this in the middle of this great worldwide pandemic]), loneliness, or anything else. Nothing is too difficult for God.

I believe that God is using this current pandemic as He uses all natural catastrophes as a wake-up call to draw us closer to Him and to help us to realize that the things of this earth do not matter. Rather, we should be busy preparing for the life to come.

Go to Christ today. In Christ is found eternal life with Him and joy and peace in this life.

God Bless You,

LInda