As we continue on in the book of Luke 1:39-45 today, we will be joining
Mary in her visit with cousin Elisabeth as they both discuss the miraculous
news that Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, brought into both their lives....
Luke 1:39-40 (KJV)
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Juda; [40] And entered into the house of Zacharias, and
saluted Elisabeth.
Scripture describes Mary as wasting no time to get to Elisabeth's house,
no doubt to share good news and hear good news. Not a bad reason for two
godly women to get together, amen ladies?? I am sure that though Mary
made this journey many times before to her cousin's house, the trip seemed
to take much longer this time than in times past! It probably seemed like
eternity to Mary who was bursting with various thoughts and emotions as
her mind went from topic to topic in regard to both of their circumstances.
The wonder of it all! Oh, how she needed someone with whom to talk and
rejoice!! What better person than her older cousin Elisabeth, who also
had experienced the miraculous hand of God in her life...
Do you have someone like that in your life, dear lady? Is there someone
that you choose to rejoice with when God has done a mighty work in you?
Is there someone specific that you know will understand the way you feel
about the miracle that has happened to you? There is nothing more frustrating
than having something spiritually wonderful take place in your heart between
you and your Lord and when upon sharing it with another, they just aren't
able to comprehend God's awesome power or even rejoice with you over the
situation. Now for the important question...
Are YOU someone that others choose to come to when they have a need to
share and rejoice over what God has done for them? Are YOU someone that
they KNOW has experienced the hand of God in your life and will understand
what they are going through? Are YOU someone who will respond joyfully
and reverently to the miracles of God in the life of another? Ladies,
it is important that we are found approachable with such important things
and that our testimony gives birth to respect toward the Lord! Certainly
you wouldn't want to be known as a magnet for complainers or gossips,
those who need an ear to discuss bad news, fully understanding that God
hates such behavior...
Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV)
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto
him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running
to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among brethren.
Notice in our opening text that when Mary finally arrived and entered
Elisabeth's presence, she saluted her. This young woman respectfully acknowledged
her cousin with a proper greeting, mindful of her own behavior, as well
as Elisabeth's position as an older woman, not to mention a family member.
Ladies, do you approach those who are older than you with respect? Do
you train your children to?? Do you treat family members with respect
when you gather with them, or are you allowing familiarity to breed contempt?
Why not purpose in your heart to create a family heirloom of longstanding
goodness and fidelity and close any disrespectful gaps that may exist
between you and your loved ones… Certainly if God is the center of your
life, your relationship with the Lord will properly determine your behavior
toward others, no matter who they are!
Proverbs 27:10 (KJV)
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into
thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour
that is near than a brother far off.
Cousin Elisabeth was someone Mary trusted and relied upon to uphold the
things of the Lord. Apparently God trusted her too, otherwise, why would
He arrange for the two of these family members to have a joint part in
His plan for bringing His Son into the world? Attitudes toward the Lord
can (and should!) spread properly among family members.... Elisabeth and
Mary were women related to one another that God could count on to be faithful
to His Word and work. They were a support system to one another and kept
each other in the faith. What a great influence to possess! What do you
think the mood was in Elisabeth's home during the time that Mary visited?
Do you think it was like Christmas around the house? Do you think there
was a song in the air that filled every room with praise to God from floor
to ceiling? I imagine that laughter, bubbling forth from an expectant
heart, replaced the silence that was so thick you could cut it with a
knife. Perhaps the house was full of activity like it had never been before,
bustling with anticipation of new life! No doubt it appeared as if a fresh
coat of paint had been applied on every wall, giving it a bright, new,
clean look. Certainly it was filled with sunshine now, where once only
a cloud had hung heavily in the air, leaving the moisture of tears upon
Elisabeth's bed. Could it be there were baby things everywhere and clothes
lying about in preparation of the little bundle that would soon fill those
tiny garments with life and love? In all probability Elisabeth's arms
were beginning to ache with desire to finally hold her baby, a child she
and Zacharias had waited for so long. What a blessed atmosphere, amen?
By the way, how's the atmosphere of your home these days? Are folks eager
to enter your home, are they equally blessed by the mood when they arrive?
Just a thought! Now, back to our story where in walks Mary and saluted
Elisabeth....
Luke 1:41 & 42 (KJV)
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,
the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Upon Mary's entrance in the home, Elisabeth knew by the way her baby leaped
in her own womb, and by the witness of the Holy Spirit, that Mary's womb
was cradling the Savior! Mary did not even have the chance to tell Elisabeth,
did not even have to open her mouth to share what had happened to her!
Nor had Gabriel come to tell Elisabeth that Mary was with child.... The
presence of the Lord spoke for itself and witnessed of the miracle within
Mary, bringing a spiritual perception in Elisabeth and causing her to
emphatically say that Mary was BLESSED! This was nothing for Mary to be
ashamed of, for she was blessed by the wonderful surprise plan of God
- blessed because of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ!
What significance do you think it had for Mary that Elizabeth already
knew the importance of Mary's baby? In light of her natural concern for
how others would receive her being with child, it must have been a great
comfort to Mary to discover already how capably the Lord was taking care
of all the details of her present situation! It just goes to show us that
there are things said better by the Lord than we could ever say. How many
times have you opened your mouth to say what only God should say, only
to make a mess of things? How many times have you thought that if you
don't say something, this person will never learn the truth, they need
to hear it from YOU! Ladies, it is prideful of us to underestimate the
voice and power of God. We ought to leave more things with Him to say
to others. The Lord shares truth the best and clearest of all! Is there
something specific you've been dying to share with another person that
would be better left with the Lord to say?? In our haste, we steal God's
job away from Him and at times, even misrepresent His message! You see
ladies, this news was God's special news, and HE wanted to be the first
one to tell Elisabeth. Be careful when engaging with others in conversation
that you aren't speaking what belongs to God to say to that person. Don't
steal His glory...
Incidentally, Elisabeth wisely stated that Mary was blessed AMONG women
- not ABOVE women. It is sad to see that so often Mary is lifted up as
if she were as perfect as Christ, and yet she herself knew this was not
so! She was blessed because God found her worthy as a vessel through whom
He could carry out His plan, to provide human life to His Son and entry
into this world through her body. Remember, Mary was a vessel meet for
the Master's use and submissive to the Lord's surprises! And ladies, you
and I have can have that same blessing upon our lives if we would but
yield to our God as readily as Mary did...
Vs. 43:
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
On Mary’s arrival, Elisabeth was conscious of the approach the one who
was to be the mother of the great Redeemer. Though an older woman, Elisabeth
still addresses this younger woman with respect and admiration for God's
hand upon her life. How does it feel to be genuinely complimented by someone
older than you? Certainly it was a great encouragement to Mary to have
Elisabeth praise the work of God in her young life! It confirmed in her
heart that it was right and good and brought forth gratitude and joy in
Mary's heart. Ladies, do you see how the presence of the Lord in our lives
determines the way we treat and speak to one another?? Do you see how
sweet the results are when we operate under the influence of the Holy
Spirit? Yes, even family members can get along with one another when this
is the case! In humility, Elisabeth was blessed that Mary would come to
rejoice with her, to spend time with her. She was humbled that the Lord
would come into her presence by way of Mary's body. At this moment in
time, these two women were sharing the miracle the world would soon know
of. They stood together filled with wonder, praise and joy in the Lord.
Imagine being privileged at God letting you in on the beginnings of such
a miracle as the Savior coming into the world! Those who see their need
of Christ as Mary and Elisabeth did and are desirous of living righteously
He fills with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with
the blessings the Lord gives them. Because they both believed the Word
of God, they experienced the power of God!
Vs. 44:
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears,
the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
Who was responsible for this abundant joy? Jesus! HE was responsible for
the joy that filled the chambers of these ladies hearts, the chambers
of the house! Yes, Jesus was responsible for the joy that was present
even in the heart of baby John, still in his mother's womb, for he also
knew that he was in the presence of the Lord! Ladies, there is not a place
on earth that Jesus cannot fill with joy!! The fullness of the Spirit
should lead to joyful praise in our lives and so should fullness of the
Word. Others will see our joy and know that it comes from the presence
of God. It will have a far-reaching and powerful effect on all in whom
it comes in contact.
Isn't it remarkable that such joy could come from two sets of circumstances
that the world would consider doomed? Elisabeth was experiencing joy born
out of disappointment. Mary was experiencing joy born out of a shocking
plan. Both were seemingly impossible situations - when viewed with human
eyes, that is! Yet abundant joy is born in both, when the circumstances
are given to the Lord and those in the circumstances are yielded to the
Lord! Are you missing joy in your circumstances today, dear lady? Have
you yielded yourself to the Lord and His plan for your life? Have you
accepted His will and submitted yourself to His sovereignty? Joy is yours
when you do!
Romans 15:13 (KJV)
Now the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, that ye
may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
What a precious time of fellowship these two women must have had together!!
I expect they just sat and talked and prayed and praised God and then
sat quietly again and mused over the wonder of it all. I can picture them
glancing at each other after periods of quiet reflection and bursting
forth again with the joy of laughter and amazement at the hand of God
in each of their lives as they started again to talk and share and rejoice
anew!
Verse 45:
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of
those things which were told her from the Lord.
Yes, Mary believed and trusted the Word of God and the very performance
of it was unfolding before her very eyes. How about you, dear lady? Have
you seen a performance of the promises from the Word of God? Trust is
the key. If you aren't trusting God's Word, you will never see a performance
of them! You see, Mary's blessings were according to her faith. If you
haven't been blessed in a while, your faith probably isn't doing too well!
Are you filled with doubt and unbelief these days? Or are you filled with
praise to God, singing, laughter - JOY!! That's exactly what it's like
to be filled with the Spirit. Would you fit into the conversation with
Elisabeth and Mary, or would you feel out of place? What spiritual contribution
would you make to their discussion?? Remember, trust in God brings joy;
joy fills your heart, loosens those lips and brings praise and glory to
God!
Psalm 126:2 (KJV)
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing:
then said they among the heathen, the Lord hath done great things for
them.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
