SATURDAY December 16, 2023
Joy in the Womb
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
Luke 1:42-45
Mary could hardly wait to see her relative, Elizabeth. She arose and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-40). As soon as Mary entered the house and greeted her, Elizabeth’s baby leaped in her womb.
Instantly, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke words of confirmation to Mary. She was assured by her relative that everything spoken by the angel would be fulfilled. Through the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth knew what had happened to Mary without her having to say a single word––within her womb, she carried Christ the Lord. Elizabeth commended Mary for her great faith.
Notice, Elizabeth recognized that the Child in Mary’s womb was her personal Lord––“the mother of my Lord.” It is interesting that Elizabeth’s baby experienced joy and leaped in his mother’s womb, knowing that he was in the presence of the Lord. Life begins in the womb. Christ, in His divinity, was wrapped in humanity in the womb of His mother, Mary.
Elizabeth’s home must have been such a safe haven for Mary. She was able to stay with someone from her own family who completely understood her situation. I am sure she may have felt very alone as a young, unmarried, pregnant teenager, but she found comfort with her relative––an older woman in the family who lovingly embraced her. Elizabeth was in tune with God’s workings, and Mary received just what she needed––encouragement.
As Christ was born of the Virgin’s womb, so must He be spiritually formed in our hearts. As He died for sin, so must we die to sin. And as He rose again from the dead, so must we also rise to a divine life.
~George Whitefield~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
