Nuggets
- Elizabeth’s greeting gave pure acceptance to this unwed mother.
- Elizabeth’s greeting took such a load off of Mary’s mind, she broke into song.
- In today’s terms, Mary stayed a long time with Elizabeth.
Who do we run to when we have something big going on in our lives? It is usually family – and family who are or have been in a similar situation. This devotion looks at Mary’s visit with her cousin Elizabeth.
Gabriel threw Mary a bone. “You think this pregnancy is impossible? Well, your old cousin Elizabeth is pregnant, too” (Lk. 1: 36-37).
So, Mary went to see her. Good thing. Mary was needing the assurance.
Let's Put It into Context
“Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth” (Lk. 1: 39-40 NKJV)
Geikie gives us the lowdown on Judah or Juttah. Juttah (modern day Yatta) was a large stone village in the hill country in Galilee. However, some did live in tents. It was an agricultural town. Since there are winepresses cut in the rock, vines must have grown in the rocky ground. It also had enough grass to support livestock. Geikie described it as “a great oasis in the desert, though the Negeb is very far from being a desert as things are judged in such a land as Palestine.”
So, let’s think about it a minute. Mary was probably a teenager, so I doubt she traveled alone, even though Mr. Thorough Luke didn’t mention anyone.
But think of the distance. Juttah was probably about 20 miles but think of walking in the hills.
Alone?
Regardless of how she went, Mary got where she was going in one piece.
Greetings and Salutations
“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. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Lk. 1: 41-45 NKJV)
I have always liked the idea that fetus John the Baptist was so excited to see fetus Jesus (Lk. 1: 44). At that point in time, John knew Him.
But think of the greeting that Elizabeth gave Mary. Pure acceptance to this unwed mother. And not just whispered in her ear. “Then she spoke out with a loud voice …” (Lk. 1: 42 NKJV).
And Mary didn’t have to say a thing. “… when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary …” (Lk. 1: 41 NKJV). She didn’t have to fumble through an explanation, worried about how Elizabeth was going to react. She didn’t have to feel embarrassed or guilty.
Mary immediately got love and acceptance from Elizabeth.
We don’t know how long it had been since the two cousins had seen each other. They didn’t catch up on the family gossip. They went straight to the spiritual matters.
Isn’t that what God gives us? He gives us joy in all situations. That let’s the love and acceptance shine through.
Three times Elizabeth said that Mary was blessed. Just like Gabriel said Mary was blessed, Elizabeth hit it home. “Don’t worry about what this world thinks. You are blessed.”
Look at verse 45. “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Lk. 1: 45 NKJV). Gabriel acknowledged Mary’s faith, just as Elizabeth was doing.
It looks like Mary got all the encouragement she needed, just in the greeting! How could any doubts stay?
Mary Breaks Out in Song
“And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever” (Lk. 1: 46-55 NKJV)
Elizabeth’s greeting took a load off of Mary’s mind. So much so that she broke into song.
Let’s bullet point this.
- Verse 46: Everything within Mary glorifies God. Her mouth wants to start singing, and her toes want to start tapping.
- Verse 47: She acknowledges that God is her savor.
- Verse 48: Psalms 8: 4 says, “what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” (NLT). In her mind, Mary saw God’s grace. Grace is where He provided more than we deserved. I wonder how many little Hebrew girls grew up hoping they would become the mother of the Messiah?
- Verse 49: God is holy, which is being set apart, perfect, and pure. That produces righteousness, which is created by having faith and loving as Jesus does.
- Verse 50: We know to fear God means to love and reverence Him. Think of this young girl who no one else would have chosen being chosen to be the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Why? His mercy and her faith.
- Verse 51: The rest of the verses are in past tense. Yes, God has done all of this in the past. But past tense — the Savior isn’t born yet. Talk about Mary’s faith.
- Verse 52: Mary can’t praise God without acknowledging His power. “ God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect” (II Sam. 22: 33 NLT). She is going to need that power and protection!
- Verse 53: I wonder if this verse comes out of her economic circumstances. She was just a lowly handmaiden. She wasn’t born in palaces or even to some wealthy merchant. But yet she was chosen, not because of worldly success standards, but because if her faith.
- Verse 54: Mercy is the unexpected way God responds in love to our needs. Instead of giving up on humans and punishing us as we deserve, God instead sent a Savior to redeem us.
- Verse 55: In Why Mary?, we talked about how Mary was from the line of Judah (Lk. 3: 33), making her a descendant of Abraham. We can also see where Mary was was a great … great grandkid of David (Lk. 3: 31).
Look what Robinson said. “Mary’s song of praise is 1) the climax of all the hymns of the old covenant [and] 2) the beginning of all the hymns of the new.” We talked about that in Why Mary? She was really stepping out in blind faith.
Mary may have just had the promise of the Messiah and, at this point, the promise of a Baby, but she nailed it, though, didn’t she? Mary got God’s plan. She understood her part in it. And she was good with that.
Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow
“And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house” (Lk. 1: 56 NKJV)
In today’s terms, Mary stayed a long time with Elizabeth. It may have been more par for the course back in those days when traveling was more difficult.
But think about it. “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth” (Lk. 1: 26 NKJV).
Translation: It was during the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy when Mary got her own announcement. “Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste …” (Lk. 1: 39-40 NKJV). She didn’t waste any time in going.
Mary stayed three months. Six months + three months = Elizabeth’s baby is going to be born either while a Mary is there or soon after she leaves.
Mary saw firsthand that Zacharias had to play Charades to be understood. She saw the power of God as He deals with doubt. But most of all, she found acceptance to help bolster her for the long road ahead.
Making the Connections
Because face it. At this point, she may not have known what Joseph was going to do.It doesn’t sound like she stuck around to deal with him.
Or she may be thinking Joseph was going to divorce her, because that was his first thought (Mt. 1: 19).
Ooo, baby. Doesn’t that make Elizabeth’s instant acceptance that much more sweet?
Guys, sometimes we women can’t deal with you. When we are the ones who have to keep all the plates spinning no matter what, we get overwhelmed at times. Add in something difficult, our ability to cope may be toast.
Ladies, we have to take care of ourselves so we can take care of others. God did make us nurturers. But you can’t grow something from something that is not there.
Sometimes, we just need a break to regroup and make sure we are where God wants us to be and doing what He wants us to be doing.
How Do We Apply This?
We get hit with hard trials, too. Sometimes, we have to step back and commune with God. That could be going to Him directly or through the counsel of a like-minded believer.
We have to examine where our faith is at during that point. We need to remember past trials and how He has gotten us through them. That will lead us to remembering His mercy and His grace.
God takes care of us. He will support us even when we feel everything is being tossed around. God loves us.
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Lk. 1: 46-47 NKJV)
What do you think?
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