Amongst the unknown details of the circumstance Mary found herself in, she heads to visit Elizabeth with great haste. “A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” – Luke 1:39-41
I love this part! The one who would prepare the way for the Messiah – John the Baptist, who would call people to repentance – he praised the Lord before he even breathed outside of the womb. Leaping in expression of joy. Joy birthing an action of praise before the Promised One.
“Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” – Luke 1:42-45
When was the last time you gave a glad cry? Elizabeth’s announcement that Mary was blessed and so was the child she carried, was divine revelation through the Holy Spirit that had come upon her. Can you imagine how those words would have encouraged Mary? She just had this unbelievably supernatural experience happen to her… and without any explanation of what happened, has arrived at Elizabeth’s home to receive further confirmation that she was the mother of her Lord!
Do you ever wonder about the details we’re not told in this section? The time between Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel and when she saw her cousin, what transpired? Had she already experienced mockery from her circumstances? Was her mind filled with questions, leaving her faith hanging by a thread? While we obviously don’t know those details, we do know that Mary received the words of Truth that fell on her ears from her cousin and praise was her first response!
“Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!
For He took notice of his lowly servant girl,
And from now on all generations will call be blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy,
And He has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation
To all who fear Him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones
And exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
And sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel
And remembered to be merciful.
For He made this promise to our ancestors,
To Abraham and His children forever.” – Luke 1:46-55
Accepting the Gift that God had given her… the responsibility of carrying and birthing and raising the Messiah, she praised Yahweh for taking notice of His “lowly servant”. While there’s no way she could’ve fathomed what the future held… standing at the foot of a tree that this same Son would be nailed to, blood shed… while her heart was pierced with deep pain no mother should ever have to bear… watching as He took His last breath…. But with great faith she sang praise through the unknowns.
What unknowns are you currently facing? How about we take the focus off what we don’t know, and cling to what we do, and praise God for His Word. Praise Him for what He’s revealed to us and receive it with faith.
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