A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” (Luke 1:39–45 NLT)
In Luke 1, relatives Mary and Elizabeth both find themselves in vulnerable situations.
Elizabeth, wife of Zechariah the priest, is advanced in years and childless – until an angel tells Zechariah that “God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John” (Luke 1:13).
A few months later, when an angel also appears to Mary – telling her she will bear the “Son of the Most High” – he tells her about Elizabeth’s news, too. “What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail” (1:36–37).
Despite their different life stages, both Elizabeth and Mary likely felt some degree of fear and vulnerability as their pregnancies progressed. Their conceptions were dictated by the Spirit of God and announced by angels. Zechariah was unable to speak until after John’s birth as a result of his unbelief, and Joseph’s whole reputation was at stake. Both circumstances were unusual, with Elizabeth being very old and Mary being very young. Their sons’ futures had been pronounced – John the Baptist would “be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth [. . . and] turn many Israelites to the Lord their God” (1:15–16). Jesus, of course, would “reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end” (1:33).
These women had countless reasons to keep to themselves, to stuff their emotions inside and hide from anyone (everyone) who would likely have unkind words to say about them. But Luke 1:39–45 paints a beautiful picture that counters that expected response: Mary hurried to the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah, and “at the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed.’”
When I read this, I’m nearly brought to tears by Elizabeth’s kindness. She knows herself, all too well, some of the emotions Mary is likely experiencing. And yet she encourages her, speaks joy and life into her, and celebrates the detour Mary finds herself on. We aren’t told what Mary says to Elizabeth, but considering we are told she stays for three months, I’m sure she encourages her deeply, too!
May we mimic the relationship of Elizabeth and Mary, who find themselves drawn together under the most unusual circumstances. We see them being formed into people of love by their babies, yet to be born.
When we encounter detours that threaten to disrupt our well-laid plans, may we, too, hurry to bring someone else into the mess with us. May we be vulnerable with them and allow Christ to speak truth and love through them to us. May we love as he has loved us.
Carissa works as executive assistant to Stu Streeter, the NAB VP of Church Multiplication and Ministry Advancement.