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Elisabeth and Mary


An Advent Reading:

Luke 1:24-25 (NASB)
24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
25 "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men."

Luke 1:36-37 (NASB)
36 "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
37 "For nothing will be impossible with God."

Luke 1:39-45 (NASB)
39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 "And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
44 "For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
45 "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."

A Meditation on the Possible:

Elisabeth is somewhat quietly in the background for much of this passage in Luke 1. Zechariah meets Gabriel in the temple. Then coming home, he cannot say what happened! Elisabeth has what many wives have – a non-communicating husband! So, it’s interesting to ponder her situation. Zechariah does not speak, but he makes love to her…they are older, past the age and yet somehow this time, much different than all other times, something happens. She becomes pregnant!
Laugh, Elisabeth, laugh.
Something happen that seemed impossible.
After so many years…years that began with hope and expectation, but turned towards barreness and shame – the impossible became real. “Behold, says the Lord, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth: do you not perceive it?” (Isa. 43:19).
Her older frame starts to get rounder and her belly sticks out. She who endured the shame of barrenness is now proudly walking in a place of blessing. She is quietly happy, joy-filled, and wondering…after all these years of trying, crying, and missing…why now?

There are months of quietness for her household. Zechariah is still not speaking, and she has kept her condition a secret – why?, perhaps it appears so unreal at first, perhaps she is concerned whether she’ll carry the baby to term, perhaps it’s just her personality…we don’t know. It’s in the sixth month that her younger relative Mary shows up. Elisabeth has not communicated with family, and Mary has not communicated her news either. Mary’s journey to her is spurred on by her own news and yet both are unprepared for what is to take place. Without a word spoken, something happens…the baby within Elisabeth “leaps inside of her”. No words have been spoken, but yet volumes spill out in that second. Mary whispers the word, “Elisabeth”, and before she can respond, the baby inside of her responds for her. The baby is prophesying even in the womb. He is already doing what he was sent forth to do!

The older Elisabeth should be the one honored – she is married and has waited for this pregnancy for years. Mary is the young virgin needing to explain why she is still a virtuous woman. But it is the younger Mary that receives the blessing of Elisabeth’s Holy Spirit filled phrase: “And she cried out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’”

Now it is not in private. Now more than one knows the miracles that have occurred. Now there is a stirring in the world that will begin with the two mothers and their two babies, and the ripple of that “fruit of your womb” has not stopped since then.

The first Advent only two knew what was happening…but they celebrated the announcement in private, sharing their joy with each other, and with the child(s) in their wombs.

Impossible?

Sorry, you can’t say God and impossible in the same sentence.

An Advent Prayer:

Oh Lord, Christmas is coming. O Lord, not just a day to open presents and be with family and friends, as wonderful these blessings are; but Lord it is a day that reminds me that you can do the impossible. You are coming Lord and I can’t wait. My heart beats with joy and beats faster knowing that expectations grow with each passing day. Elisabeth laughed…I bet she did! And Lord, I can’t help but laugh also. Lord, send me to others that need to laugh. Send me to others that need to know you are the God of impossibilities. Send me to another that I might share this joy that Christmas is coming!

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