Advent Day 21 Luke1:43-44

“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 !” Luke 1:43-44 (ESV)

Once Mary, the mother of Jesus, was visited by the angel Gabriel, and the Holy Spirit miraculously impregnated her, she wanted to be with her extended family. She left and went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who just six months ago had a miracle of her own. Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, had been visited by the same angel, Gabriel, with a very special message that he and his wife, who both were “advanced in years”, were going to have a son, and they were to call him John.

 For years, Zechariah and Elizabeth had been praying that God would hear their prayers and grant them a child, but until this day, the answer had been “not yet”. So many times, in our lives, we seek God’s favor and make our desires known to Him, only to not see His answer, at least not see His answer the way we want.

For centuries, Christians have interpreted “not yet” as “no.” We think that just because we can’t see the results of God’s plan within our acceptable time frame, He isn’t listening to us. How foolish are we as God’s people? For the decades that Zechariah and Elizabeth had been praying, they had not seen God answering their prayers; all the while, God was very active, orchestrating circumstances to bring them and us a blessing at just the right time.

Now we find Elizabeth, some six months pregnant, receiving a surprise visit from her much younger cousin, Mary, who herself is carrying the “Savior of the World” in her womb. I love Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary, “and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Can you imagine Elizabeth's emotions at this point? Here Elizabeth has been told about her son, “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for 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.” This news alone would cause her heart to overflow, and if Elizabeth were like us, and I think she was, I’m sure she couldn’t wait to tell someone, and especially her own family, about this miracle that God had performed. But the first words out of her mouth were not about her great news, but about what God had revealed to her about her cousin Mary.

Elizabeth’s first words were “'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Don’t overlook the other information that is provided: “For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” It seems that even the unborn baby John knew that God was fulfilling His promises that were made from the beginning of the world. That from the seed of the woman, God would bring forth the Savior of the world.

What an intimate moment we are allowed to share between these two women, one a young woman who never knew a man, and one an older woman who by all accounts was way past childbearing age. However, they both shared one thing in common. God’s prophecy given to Isaiah to “prepare the way of the LORD,” was being fulfilled, and God chose both of them to help fulfill His Word.  They both knew that God is a promise keeper, and they both trusted Him to provide the Savior of the World.

Friend, as you read these accounts of the miraculous events leading up to the birth of our Lord Jesus, don’t forget that God is a promise-keeper. He has proven it over and over again for thousands of years. Put your faith, your trust, and confidence in God, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

This Season of Advent, open your heart and let in the truth from The Promise Keeper, and put your faith in Jesus.

"Living in Grace is not about what I can do, but about what Jesus has already done!"

Advent Prayer Day 21

Merciful Father,

You have proven yourself to us many times; you have been there for us when our earthly world seemed to be falling apart.

You have helped us to turn away from a life of sin and turn to You.

You are the “Promise Keeper”, and find forgiveness of our sins and rest for our souls.

Thank you for always being there for us.

In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen