Luke 1:39-59
When we
encounter something greater than ourselves, we are often driven to share the
experience we have had with someone else.
Now if we can
even begin to imagine having a conversation with the angel Gabriel, perhaps we
can also understand a need to share that experience with someone who has also
had a conversation with the angel Gabriel.
This, I
think, best explains Mary’s travel to visit her relative (probably her aunt)
Elizabeth immediately upon hearing the news that she would be with Child of the
Holy Spirit. The news is so great and so overwhelming she naturally seeks another
one she knows can in some way relate to her experience with Gabriel. How
wonderful Gabriel shared with Mary the news about Elizabeth also being miraculously
pregnant. (News she could not possibly have known had Gabriel not shared it
with her.)
Now that
Mary IS pregnant with Child by the Holy Spirit, she escapes to the security of
those who will be inclined to believe along with her for the plan of God.
Sometimes it
is of great comfort to not only hear from God ourselves, but also to find
refuge in those who have likewise heard.
And
Elizabeth and Zacharias are SUCH encouraging witnesses to Mary for God’s plan.
How can this be? They all seemed to have the answer to their questions
together, and Elizabeth’s divine sense of encouragement from the Lord played a
very important part in the understanding and excitement for God’s plan that strengthened
Mary for our eternal life story – and for hers.
I can imagine
Mary approaching Zacharias’ and Elizabeth’s house, wondering all along the way
about how to explain the news she has heard from Gabriel and how she is now
pregnant even though she has never known a man. Do you think she was nervous or
fearful of attempting to explain this news to them?
Imagine her
joy upon arrival of finding Elizabeth already knows, the baby she is carrying
in her womb knows, and Zacharias knows. This IS God’s plan, and it is marvelous
to see!
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