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by Sandy Shaw
In Luke Chapter 1 verse 39, we read of Mary making her way to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth at Ein Karen, a village outside Jerusalem and around 70 miles south of Nazareth.Some 9 months later this same virgin, Mary, would make the 80 miles journey south with Joseph to Bethlehem.
Mary arrives at the home of her cousin, Elizabeth, and greets Elizabeth.Mary knows all about Elizabeth, but Elizabeth knows nothing about Mary.When Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she speaks with a loud voice saying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear.”What is she saying?She knows nothing about Mary!
This is one of the things that can happen when people are filled with The Holy Spirit - amazing and surprising things are said - and people express truths supernaturally.When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you just overflow, and normally you overflow at the mouth.Elizabeth begins to prophesy.These words don’t come from her mind.They are inspired by the Holy Spirit within her.“Mary, you are blessed”.Have you ever noticed that when a person becomes a disciple of Jesus, and is really filled with the Holy Spirit, they no longer use the word ‘lucky’.It has become so meaningless and empty, and they become eager to use the word BLESSED, because it points to the One Who is blessing.
Elizabeth is saying - “O Mary, how mightily GOD is blessing you - and then she asks - But why is all this happening to me?Why is the mother of my Lord coming to me?Mary, I should have come to see you - not you to me.Mary, as your voice sounded in my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Mary, when you came in the door, my unborn son recognised you and recognised who is in your womb.The unborn John the Baptist recognised that he was in the presence of the unborn Lord Jesus.
John was always pointing to Jesus - preparing the way for the coming of Jesus - and here is the Holy Spirit using John, even before he is born.
In Malachi, there is a prophecy of a messenger and a Messiah.Elizabeth knew that the messenger was in her womb, but, who would be carrying the Messiah? Everyone knew that one day a Jewish virgin would carry the coming Messiah.Zechariah and Elizabeth knew that the process had begun and they would have been wondering - Who?Who will it be?Where is she?Will we know her?
GOD is keeping it within this family circle.Now Elizabeth knows that cousin Mary is to be the mother of The Messiah - the mother of Christ the Saviour - and she is the first to call HIM, LORD. Verse 43.
Verse 45.Blessed is she. Those who experience peace and lasting joy will be those who will be blessed through accepting and receiving and believing the Word of The Lord.
What can we say except “Thank you” - “Thank YOU dear GOD” - but remembering the fear - the apprehension which can creep in and the cost to be paid.Some will be blessed by our witness and testimony - to others there will be fury and anger at the disturbance and inconvenience.
John came into our world to pave the way for Jesus. Jesus came into this world to die on a Cross - to shed His Blood - and this same Risen Living and Ascended Lord Jesus Christ calls us to follow HIM.What is your response as you read and study this part of the Word of God?
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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