Mary, the mother of Jesus and Elizabeth, the mother of John the baptiser, were pregnant at the same time. And they had more in common: they were relatives, they were both on their first pregnancy, they both became pregnant through an almighty act of God, God sent the angel Gabriel to announce both births, and they both were given a child who played a key role in God's plan of salvation.
I am sure they wept together, laughed together, prayed together, shared the experiences of becoming mothers for the first time and encouraged one another spiritually, lifting one another up, during the three months they were together (Lk 1:56). Elizabeth must have had a major role in comforting and inspiring Mary to be able to complete her challenge and call within the coming of the Messiah. Elizabeth was to serve Mary and support her when she most needed the care, love and encouragement. Elizabeth served the coming of Messiah’s kingdom by serving her young relative, the Messiah’s mother.
The angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her about the virgin birth. Then he gave her a sign, a proof, that this would actually happen:
(Luke 1:36) Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
When Mary heard this she "got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea" (Lk 1:39). Mary made haste out of obedience to the plan revealed to her by the angel, a plan which included the pregnancy of Elizabeth, and was confirmed by the pregnancy of Elizabeth. (Lk 1:36-37).
The visit began with Mary's greeting of Elizabeth. Mary could not have known of Elizabeth's status apart from God's revelation through the angel Gabriel. And Elizabeth was now, in turn, given a revelation of Mary's pregnancy, so that she could return Mary's greeting.
Elizabeth was given a revelation through the leap of joy of the child in her womb. The angel told Zechariah, her husband, that John the baptiser would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Lk 1:15). This meant he would be a prophet in spirit and power equal to that of the mighty prophet Elijah (Lk 1:17). John the baptiser started his prophetic ministry here, still in his mother’s womb, by leaping for joy, as a result of the presence of the Messiah in the womb of Mary. (Lk 1:41,44) Filled with the Holy Spirit, in response to the reaction of her son within her womb, Elizabeth realized that Mary was pregnant and that her child was the long expected Messiah.
In this Advent season our hearts too should leap with joy at the thought of the baby in Bethlehem's manger. We should feel John’s joy and celebrate that what the prophets of old had talked about, was finally coming to fulfilment. After all, Mary's baby is our Messiah, our Saviour and God’s only, eternal Son.
There should be a leap for joy, because we are reminded that all things are possible with God. The Saviour’s conception and birth is a sign that God can and does put aside the laws of nature, the natural order of things, in order to do his mighty will.
His kingdom comes and his will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Nothing could change his salvation plan. God was the main player in the first Christmas story and he is the main player in the coming of his kingdom today. The Mary’s, Josephs, Zechariahs, Elizabeths and shepherds of this world, you and I, are employed and deployed to share the Good News of him becoming part of our world, our lives, our faith and our eternal destination!
Glory to God in the highest!
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