And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luke 1:43)
I’m hard pressed to find a better role model than Elizabeth for our final preparations for remembering Jesus’ birth at church or at home.
In the first chapter of Luke, Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Mary is pregnant with Jesus. Elizabeth is carrying her first child, a child who will one day be known as John the Baptizer. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth said her child “leapt with joy” in her womb. (Luke 1:44).
It is important to note that Elizabeth was significantly older than Mary. It would be understandable if Elizabeth expected Mary to defer to her. Yet by the power of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth’s recognizes that Mary is carrying the Lord.
Elizabeth responds to this experience with humility. As we discovered in today’s reading, she says, “Why is it granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
We would do well to take the same attitude in approaching our remembrances of Jesus’ birth. While such humility and awe is counter cultural, it is still appropriate. We are worshipping the one known as the “newborn king” (Matthew 2:2). He is the Savior, the one who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11).
Whether we’re attending Christmas season worship services or reading the account of Jesus birth at home, it would be God-pleasing to follow Elizabeth’s example.
(This devotion was written for the congregations of the Ohio District – LCMS.)
Kevin Wilson 360 