“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.'” Luke 1:41-45
Devotional Thought For The Day
In these verses we see the remarkable humility, faith, and blessedness of these two women who played an integral role in the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God in human flesh, Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. One was older, the other quite young, a virgin. John was first conceived by special order and blessing of God. His role was immensely important, and the angel described his position and ministry in exalted terms: “he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” [Luke 1:15-17] This would have gone to the head of many parents today, eager for their children to have ascendency and rise to the top. Note the gentle humility and faith of Elizabeth. She was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Mary’s humility is revealed in the following verses, known liturgically as “the Magnificat,” her response to the adulation heaped upon her by Elizabeth. It is rather remarkable, that the mother of the Lord would not be infected by some parental pride, some arrogance, some exalted prerogative. But in everything, as with Elizabeth, all praise, honor, and glory is given to God, and both women continued to view themselves as “blessed” to be sure, but humble and lowly. And in spite of the importance of their sons, both killed for their ministry of the Word of God – One to bring us redemption and salvation, these women remained lowly and humble. It is painful, reading this conversation filled with hope and joy, to contemplate the sword that would pierce through the hearts of these loving mothers.
Elizabeth had it exactly right, and her words were deeply instructive for Mary: “blessed is she who believed.” Mary’s blessedness did not consist of her role as mother of the Son of God, our Savior, but rather in her faith and trust in God’s Word. This same blessedness belongs to all who even today remain in joyful humility, embracing by faith the wondrous Words and promises of God – of forgiveness, mercy, cleansing away of our sin, of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, of newness of life as God’s love transforms us into His image, of all things working together for our good, of resting from our labors in death, in the glory of heaven, of impending resurrection and a new heaven and earth. We also acknowledge our humble place and stature – while at the same exalting God for all that He has done for us. In this our lives parallel those of Mary and Elizabeth.
There is also trouble, trial, pain and sorrow for us, as the Scripture assures us: “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” [Acts 14:22] Almost certainly not the pain suffered by these two pious women, who gave their sons to the work of creating and building God’s kingdom, but some sorrows, troubles, and burdens. Blessed are we if we also “believe” all that is written and promised in God’s Word, for then we will be sustained in all difficulties with the promise that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.” [Rom. 8:18] We too will one day join Elizabeth and Mary and their sons in the glory of God’s heavenly kingdom. We are family with them, God’s family. May He grant us the fullness of His Spirit that we have the same humble faith and piety as these dear women.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for blessing these two dear believers with such genuine faith, humility, and reverence for Your Word. Grant that we learn from them, learn to receive just as they received, and to humbly give all thanks, praise, honor, and glory to You – with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Help us in our time in this world to bear our burdens gladly, knowing that all things ultimately work for our great blessedness and to the praise of Your glorious grace. Enable us to take joy in our service to Your kingdom. Amen.