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 what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” Luke 1:39-45
Elizabeth stands as one of the unsung heroes of faith. Descended from Aaron, she married Zechariah, a priest. Luke described her as upright in the sight of God. She observed all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. Not many in the Bible received such a glowing description. She did things the way God wanted them done, and yet, for all her faithfulness, she bore the title of “barren”.
Did others look at her and wonder if she were as righteous as she seemed? After all, she had no children, considered a sign of God’s approval. We get some insight into her feelings by her response to her pregnancy, “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Luke 1:25
She hid out for the first five months of pregnancy. Her husband couldn’t talk after an encounter at the Temple. That must have caused quite a stir in the little town, rumors would have been abundant. “Did you hear what I heard about Zechariah and Elizabeth? They….”
The Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth and she loudly proclaimed a blessing on Mary and Jesus. In her humility, she wondered why Mary would come to her.
Why would Mary go anywhere else? They needed each other. They each carried children with a special calling from God on their lives. Their support probably included a time searching the Scripture to understand the expectations for their children. Together, they would have prepared for the arrival of John and Jesus.
Elizabeth and Zechariah eventually received the blessing of a son, in their old age. But for years, they lived without that visible sign of God’s favor, in fact, they lived in the shadow of disgrace.
Like the people in the first century, we have ideas of how God blesses those who are faithful to Him, but He doesn’t always come through in the way we want. God’s plan for the benefit of many, may mean a delay in receiving our heart’s desire.
Elizabeth serves as an example of faithfulness. The people around her may have doubted her righteousness during all the barren years, but she continued to walk in the way of the Lord.
Lord, help us to be faithful to You despite painful circumstances or the judgement of others. Give us the strength to remain true to Your ways. While we struggle in righteousness, open our eyes and hearts to encourage those around us.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25
TRICIA LATHROP 