Luke 1:39-45

39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

I pick up the story after Mary found out that she would have a baby conceived by the Holy Spirit.  So she was told by this angel that her relative, Elizabeth, was also with child.  What a miracle that would be to see!  So off to Judea Mary went to visit Elizabeth and to see for herself!  Elizabeth was having a baby after all these years!  How was that possible??

For nothing is impossible with God.

Oh, yes.Nothing is impossible with God.  As soon as Mary entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth, something amazing happened….Elizabeth AND her unborn baby realized that they were in the presence of the Lord’s mother.  How did they know that?  The bible tells us that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Not only did she know, her baby leapt in her womb.

Now, any of us who have had babies know that you can feel the baby move.  I am sure you felt your baby kick and tried to figure was it a hand or a foot that just got your rib cage.  But have any of you had a baby like my daughter?  I felt like I had a gymnast inside me at times.  Almost like Shawn Johnson doing summersaults inside me.  When I used to feel her inside me doing flips and turns and whatever else she was doing in there, I used to think of Elizabeth.  Was this what she felt when John leaped in her womb?  At that moment, Elizabeth knew a miracle was going to happen through Mary as well.  Mary hadn’t said a word, but Elizabeth said, “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 what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Wow.Did you get the tone of that?  Mary didn’t have to worry about “my parents are gonna kill me!”…Elizabeth knew that God was going to do something miraculous through Mary, and she also knew that Mary believed what God said was to be true.

56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Have you ever felt so strongly like the Lord was telling you to do something, but everyone around you would pretty much try to shoot the helium out of your balloon?  What would you do?   You would go to someone who would support you…who would understand what you believe and why you believe it.  That is what Mary did.  A miracle had happened to Elizabeth, so she went to Elizabeth.  Who would believe her?  Who would still believe that she was a virgin carrying a baby?  What shame would be placed on her at home?  What would Joseph do?

But Mary had faith that the Lord had taken care of it all.  She was lifted up and strengthened my Elizabeth and Zechariah.  Her faith was not shaken.  She knew that God was on her side and He was in control.  Listen to this…

And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers.”

Does this sound like the song of a desperate girl?  No. “ for the Mighty One has done great things for me— “

The Lord of all Creation can do mighty things for you, too.  For some of you this Christmas season might be a difficult one.  Maybe your spouse is a refuser….maybe you or your spouse dabble in pornography…maybe you’ve lost a loved one or a spouse.  The one thing I hope that you take from this story today is that the Mighty One can do great things for you, too.  He didn’t just do things for Mary.  He didn’t just do things for Elizabeth.  He will do great things for you, too.  He is the Great Healer.  He is the Abba Father that we all need.  Put your faith and trust in Him.  Let him fill your needs.  God sent the most awesome gift to you this Christmas.  Mary is carrying him in her womb in this story.  The Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you, God, for all the great things you do for us, and thank you for sending your Son to save us all.