Mary and Elizabeth

When Mary heard from the angel that Elizabeth was also with child, she quickly left to go to see Elizabeth. Elizabeth lived quite a distance, maybe 100 miles away from Mary. But Mary made the 10 day journey on foot to see her cousin. Why would she do all that?  I imagine, having just heard this life-changing news, from an angel, that she would be bearing a Son, the Messiah, on top of the social impact this pregnancy would have, gave her little choice, but to seek out Elizabeth. It is not recorded that Mary told anyone about the angelic visitor. She quickly ran to Elizabeth. The angel gave her big news for herself and also shared Elizabeth’s news of her pregnancy. When the Mary entered the house, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

^{Luke 1:35-41}

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

⁴⁰ And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

^{When the Mary entered the house, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. Elizabeth spoke great blessing upon Mary and Mary in return spoke blessings. These two women came together to share their experiences with one another. One the elder and one the younger were able to support one another, care for one another and provide a spiritual partner that the other needed. Mary needed Elizabeth’s wisdom in what she was facing. She needed strength to go home and face the reality of being pregnant. She needed to tell Joseph and her family. She wanted them to believe her. Elizabeth may have needed Mary’s help as she was older and now found herself to be pregnant for the first time. She may have needed Mary’s support with household duties or with getting things ready for a small baby when there had been hope dashed. She may have needed a listening ear. God placed these two women together to serve and support one another.}

^{This teaches us a lesson, as women, we are to care for one another, support one another and lift up one another.}

^{Titus 2:1-8}

2 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

² That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

³ The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

⁴ That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

⁵ To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

⁶ Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

⁷ In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

⁸ Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

^{We are directed to be teachers of those who are younger than we are: to be examples to them.  Just as Paul exhorted Timothy to be an example of the believers (1 Timothy 4:12), we are to be an example to others. We are to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and we are to pray for one another. (James 5:16).  As part of the body of Christ, we are to care for one another, be kind to one another and love one another. If we cannot help one another, we are not obeying God’s commands. We are to spend time as a support for each other in times of trouble and in times of good. We are to be there for one another and lift other’s up. That is what God expects. He took the time to record this precious time between Mary and Elizabeth as an example of what it means to look to our elders for wisdom and to provide a support for one another. Even in the midst of declaring the birth of Jesus, he made sure these two women connected to help each other through a huge ordeal in their lives. God cares about our individual needs as much as he cares about His whole body. He is a good Father that looks after us. He uses us to be those loving arms and those who can speak wisdom into one another. He is eager to use us today. Can we be used as the hands and feet of God? Can we be used as the encourager and the lifter up of someone else?  Let’s be aware that God uses us to provide for the needs of others and others can provide for us as well. Let’s all do what God has called us to do, and that is to love one another as Christ loves the church.}