When Elizabeth and Mary got together, they had earth-shaking business to discuss. The teenage Mary traveled 70 miles to visit Elizabeth.
Luke records the account like this, “In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth” (Luke 1.39-40).
The importance of their meeting is emphasized by the willingness of a teenage girl to travel 70 miles to see her relative. I suppose that Mary traveled on foot and was accompanied by family members.
Can you imagine what they talked about while they journeyed to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth? Why sort of questions did Mary have to answer? How much of her story do you think she shared with her traveling companions?
Have you ever had an experience where you dropped everything and did what you believed God was calling you to do? If you have, then you can relate to some small degree with Mary.
Not Just a Baby Kicking
As Mary greeted Elizabeth with the customary greeting of peace, John “leaped in” Elizabeth’s womb. Elizabeth knew this was more than a baby kicking in the womb.
Luke recalled the experience and wrote, “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry,
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1.41-42).
Elizabeth did not speak on her own, but the Holy Spirit delivered God’s message through her. There have been times when I knew my words weren’t mine, but the Spirit’s.
If God can speak through a donkey to warn Balaam of impending danger, the Holy Spirit can speak through us. The story of Balaam and the donkey is found in Numbers 22.22-35.
You don’t have to be a preacher or seminary-trained to be used by the Holy Spirit. Some of the most powerful messages I have heard have come from people with limited education and sophistication but were willing to be used by God.
The Holy Spirit revealed to Elizabeth the fact that the virgin Mary was pregnant. The Spirit also revealed the status of Mary’s Son.
Elizabeth’s Declaration to Mary
Mary and Elizabeth didn’t have a casual “get together” over coffee. They spoke to each other in Spirit-inspired dialogue. Tomorrow’s blog article features “Mary’s Song,” a powerful proclamation of God’s saving activity.
Luke recorded that Elizabeth declared to Mary: “And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
“For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.
“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” (Luke 1.43-45).
Don’t let the phrase, “my Lord,” slip by. When Elizabeth spoke, she was recalling Psalm 110.
The Lord says to my lord,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool.” (Psalm 110.1)
It was only on the Day of Pentecost that the full meaning of the Psalm and Elizabeth’s declaration was known.
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter preached:
“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
“Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:34-36).
Can you imagine a conversation within the Trinity? The Father turns to the Son and says, “Sit at my right hand . . .”
Only the life, death, resurrection, and gift of the Holy Spirit allow us to see the full revelation of God’s great love. The crucified Lord and Messiah is our Savior.
Today’s Prayer
Please take a few minutes to review this short passage of Scripture and talk to God about what you have read.
My prayer is:
Dear God, I marvel at your love and grace. You have given us your Son, who is Lord, Messiah, and Savior. Your Spirit works in us and through us. We praise you today and surrender to your guidance.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I have produced a YouTube video on these verses. Please take a few minutes to listen to the video. Rudy’s insights and wealth of Biblical knowledge will bless you. It can be found on the Bob Spradling YouTube channel.
Real Voices 