Faith Lifters - Mary and Elizabeth

    If we didn't know how things turned out for Mary and her unplanned pregnancy, we might have more questions, like when did she break the news to those closest to her?   Rushing in to tell them the "good news" could have had her declared a liar, stoned as a law-breaker, institutionalized as mentally unstable, ostracized for immorality, or kept in a secure environment so the neighbors would never hear her blasphemous claims.  

In His perfect wisdom, God chose the eye-witness Gabriel to provide the exact message Mary needed to broach the topic with a relative.  

"Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month."  Luke 1:36

Gabriel himself had revealed to Zechariah, Elizabeth's husband, their own miracle of a coming son. These days we learn of pregnancies moments, even seconds, after parents get a positive test, but in those days, family news trickled from town to town through the occasional traveler.  Gabriel provided clear, precise facts for Mary: "Elizabeth," "old age," "said to be unable to conceive," and "in her sixth month of pregnancy."  

This information accomplished several purposes for Mary: 

First: They served as the pinch Mary needed to assure her what Gabriel told her was true.  Elizabeth's pregnancy was something she could see for herself that would wave away any fog she had concerning a baby in her own future. 

Second: The timing of Gabriel's visit and the facts he provided gave Mary direction.  With three months until Elizabeth's due date, she could travel from Galilee to Judea to visit her.  If Gabriel had come sooner, Elizabeth might not be so visually pregnant.  If he had arrived later, Mary might have debated whether or not to risk the trip since virgins weren't allowed in homes when women delivered babies.  But, because of God's perfect timing, she didn't have to think long.  

Third: There would be questions and eventually a time to answer those questions. However, God first provided a safe place - safe physically, emotionally and spiritually - for Mary to process and ponder her position and Who was coming. With Elizabeth and Zechariah she could express aloud what she could not express to anyone else. This couple would be the only people on earth who would, could believe and understand her story without a shred of doubt or condemnation. 

Fourth: Elizabeth was six months pregnant. Elizabeth - advanced beyond the conception years, was expecting a child.  What other miracle could have been so perfectly designed to lift Mary's faith to the next level?  She was a woman who needed a woman who could relate, who could help her accept and embrace God's Power and invasive Presence in her personal space and world. 

Elizabeth didn't disappoint:


"At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!”  Luke 1:39-45

And Mary, sweet little girl-woman Mary, could finally sing out the song she had hoped she could sing from the moment Gabriel had revealed the Father's plan.


“My soul glorifies the Lord
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
 for He has been mindful
    of the humble state of His servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
    for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is His name.
His mercy extends to those who fear Him,
    from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm;
    He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,

    to Abraham and his descendants forever,
 remembering to be merciful 

    just as He promised our ancestors.”
Luke 1:46-55

With these praises and celebrations, two Holy Spirit filled women began a three-month fellowship retreat. I would love to have been a New Testament fly on that Judean wall. 

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. 
Luke 1: 56

Lord, thank You for the cloud of witnesses You provide to lift our faith to new levels.  May we go to those You send us to be blessed by them, and may we open our hearts to those who come to us for encouragement when You've called them to walk hard paths.  Use Your children to bring out the best in one other.  Guide us to praise You with our words - aloud and with enthusiasm for the very real gifts You give. 
In the Name of Jesus, the Child Whose birth story begins and ends with a journey