Luke 1:13,18 (WEB)
But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John…”
Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
Faithful Elizabeth is about to get the best news her life! She and Zacharias have been praying and waiting for God to provide children for them for such a long time. Living in a society which places so much importance on having children must have been so very difficult for Elizabeth. Especially when the people in her culture associated barrenness with God’s displeasure for not living righteously. However, she is “well advanced in years” now, as her husband Zacharias calls it. She is certainly past the years of child bearing.
Yet here, so suddenly, comes the answer to Elizabeth and Zacharias’ prayers! God has remembered them! And Elizabeth’s calling and ministry in life are about to change. No longer will she be called the “barren woman.” No, now she will be known as “Mother.” This is a change I’m sure Elizabeth is ready to face. Can you hear how the past years of barrenness affected Elizabeth in these words of hers?
Luke 1:25 (NIV)
“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Do you hear the terrible heartache Elizabeth has born for such a long time because of her barrenness? She says she was disgraced among the people. Yet in all her trials, she has remained faithful to God. What joy it will bring to her heart to hear the words “Mother” referring to her! I’m sure no mother was more happy to hear those words spoken by their child than Elizabeth was when her son John spoke them to her for the first time.
Yet in all the joy, was there ever a moment of pause? It’s one thing to become a mother at a proper young age, when you have all the energy of youth. But many a woman has found the prospect of pregnancy at an older age to be a daunting thought indeed. Elizabeth expresses nothing but joy, though. She has found strength in God during her difficult burden of barrenness. And she will lean on His strength to help her with motherhood in old age.
Her age will be of great benefit to her son, John. For by this period of her life she will have much more knowledge and wisdom to give him. She and Zacharias will be able to prepare him well for the mighty task God is giving him. They have diligently learned and followed all of God’s laws. They will certainly be a Godly example for their son to follow.
And there will be at least one other person who will benefit from Elizabeth’s mentorship. In about six months, Elizabeth’s young cousin, Mary, is going to receive a visit from the angel Gabriel, too. And she’s going to need all the help she can get! While Elizabeth faces her unexpected pregnancy within the stability and gladness of an established marriage and home life, Mary’s early months of pregnancy will be very different. There was never a pregnancy like hers. Pregnant by the Holy Spirit? How could that be? No husband. No stability. Suspicious thoughts about her from her fiancé and who knows how many other people. And no way to prove her innocence. Her pregnancy would be a very different event in so many ways.
Yet, as Mary hurries to Elizabeth with her news, she will find in Elizabeth the wisdom and compassion she needs. Who else would understand how to handle the unjustified judgments and thoughts of one’s neighbors and relatives than Elizabeth, who had born the judgements of barrenness for many years. Who else would believe in a miracle baby? Elizabeth certainly would. And who else would have had an encounter with the angel messenger, Gabriel? Zacharias would!
Mary will find a shelter and wisdom in Elizabeth and Zacharias that will ground her and prepare her for the days ahead when she will have to face her fiancé and family and tell them of her pregnancy. The timing of Elizabeth’s pregnancy may have seemed strange to her. But within God’s time table, everything was happening at just the right time.
And we can be just as sure that God’s timing in our own lives is right in every way, too. Are you finding yourself in a new season of life, with new challenges and opportunities? Trust in the God who got you through your past challenges and rely on Him to help you through these new ones. And look about you for the opportunities He gives you to share with others the wisdom He has taught you over the years.
Psalm 71:17-18 (WEB) God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works. Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture passages marked WEB are from the World English Bible, Public Domain.
Image of Elizabeth by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Image for Psalm 71:17-18 by Bru-nO.
What a wonderful perspective from a woman’s point of view. Elizabeth and Mary were at the same time blessed and amazed at the unprecedented events in their lives.
It was a real blessing that they had each other during this time. I find it interesting how many people God used from this extended family. Some commentators believe the disciples James and John, the sons of Zebadee, were Jesus’ cousins, also, their mothers being sisters. If this is true, and you include John the Baptist, then there is a lot going on in this family!