A Special Visit

“And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.”  Luke 1:39-40

You know how it is when you have some really good news to share, you just can’t wait to tell someone, preferably someone who is close to you and cares about you and yours.  This is how it was for Mary.  She had just found out that she was going to bear the Son of God who would be the Savior of mankind.  That’s pretty big news for anyone, but especially for a young teenage girl who had likely been living her short life obliviously to any major events going on in her city and in the world.  We know very little about Mary.  Was she allowed to go to school to get an education?  Probably not.  School was mostly reserved for Jewish boys.  What about her parents?  They are not mentioned, but, apparently, they did a good job of rearing her, a faithful, innocent, and understanding young lady who was taught about the God of Israel and the importance of worshipping and serving Him.

As soon as Mary arrived at the home of Elisabeth and Zacharias, she greeted Elisabeth, her cousin.   Immediately as Elisabeth heard Mary’s voice, little baby John, who was six months along in the womb, leaped within the womb, and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  If you have ever been pregnant and felt the baby kick, imagine how it would feel to have the baby leap inside of your body!  Those who claim that an unborn baby is not really a life until he or she is born needs to rethink their position.  John, in the womb, knew exactly what was happening.  Of course, he was given that ability extraordinarily, but that doesn’t negate the fact that an unborn baby is just as much a real and living person as one who has already been born.

Elisabeth then spoke loudly and said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42).  Feeling unworthy to be in the presence of the Lord, even as He was still a Baby in the womb, she enquired as to why she should have such an honor as to be visited by Mary, the mother of the Savior.  She then told Mary about how John leaped in her womb at the sound of her voice.  Elisabeth then blessed Mary because of her faithfulness and her unquestioning belief that what the angel told her would come to pass.  This was certainly something for which Elisabeth and every person that has ever been born on this earth should be grateful.  Mary would be filled with joy, but she would also suffer extreme sorrow in the future.

After Elisabeth’s call for God to bless Mary, the mother of Jesus began to sing a song of praise to the Lord.  She may have only been the age of a teenager, but her level of articulate and heartfelt words to honor the LORD far exceeded her age.  As I wrote last time, it appears that young people in ancient times were more mature than those of today, generally speaking.  There weren’t so many things to distract them from the spiritual life.  While formal religious education among the young Jewish boys was a priority, the young girls received their spiritual training from their parents.

There is not enough time in this short blog to cover Mary’s entire song (Luke 1:46-55), but it began with her heartfelt joy in being chosen to bear the Son of God who would one day bring salvation to all who would repent of sin and believe in Christ.  She rejoiced in God her Savior, because, you see, Mary knew that she needed a Savior just like everyone who has ever lived upon earth.  She understood that God’s choice in her to bear Jesus would cause the world to call her blessed, but she was not to be the object of worship.  She would bring the One who was to be worshipped forth from her virgin body, a miracle of God.  She continued to praise God for His holiness, mercy, strength, provisions for the needy, and His promise to Abraham and his descendants to send a Savior.

Mary stayed with Elisabeth for about three months before she returned home, just prior to the time when Elisabeth would deliver her son, John the Baptist, Jesus’ second cousin, and the forerunner of Christ.        More next time.