Finding Purpose, Hope and Joy Through Jesus’ Birth預覽

Day 3 – Story Of Elizabeth’s Purpose

In our passage today, God performed a miracle inside of a once barren woman. Her barrenness had brought insults and reproof from others because to be barren in that culture was a disgrace. But a miracle of God had occurred, and God had blessed her with pregnancy.

Our passage today finds two women—one older and one perhaps just a teenager—meeting together. Mary heard about Elizabeth’s pregnancy and went to visit her. We know Elizabeth was over six months pregnant at this time. It is a sign of God’s love that these two women are related, so they can be a comfort and encouragement to one another. Mary finds herself pregnant outside of marriage, and Elizabeth is there to support her. Both women are experiencing miraculous events related to pregnancy.

At the sound of Mary’s voice, the baby inside of Elizabeth leaped for joy, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Elizabeth is the first person the Bible records as recognizing the Messiah’s arrival! She declared that Mary was the mother of her Lord! The Holy Spirit had informed Elizabeth of Mary’s purpose before Mary could say a word.

Elizabeth had a distinct purpose in the Advent story. She declared that Jesus was blessed and He was the Lord!

Elizabeth’s son grew up to be John the Baptist, who ministered “before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah” and was the prophet who prepared the way for the Messiah.

Over 2000 years later, we still have a similar purpose to the one given Elizabeth. We are called to proclaim the Savior! Just like Elizabeth, we can sense the prompting of the Holy Spirit and proclaim His goodness. We can echo the praises of Peter: “...declare the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).