Chapter 9.

Mary Helped Elisabeth

Bring Forth John the Baptist.

 

Joseph knew Mary was eager to travel to the home of Zacharias and Elisabeth.  And, he himself wanted to meet them and learn more about their miracle baby.  So, he prepared to escort Mary to their residence.  Mary planned to stay there until the baby was born, because Elisabeth was aged and heavy with child and the weather was oppressively hot.  Mary wanted to help.  Joseph planned to leave Mary there for about three months and, then, bring her home to Nazareth. 

 

Fortunately, Joseph owned a cart and a donkey.  He was a carpenter, and he used them to haul his tools and equipment and construction materials to job sites.  Also, he had a few friends who worked with him on his projects.  They agreed to accompany the newlyweds.  Joseph knew he and Mary should not make the journey by themselves.  Robbers were active in the hill country of Judea.  The trip would take several days, so the travelers would be “camping out” during nighttime hours.  The crew put supplies and gear into the cart, added Mary’s luggage, made a comfortable place for her to sit, and yoked the donkey to the cart.  When they were ready, the group headed South.

 

Luke provided these details ...

...Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.  (Luke 1:39-45 KJV)

Remember, baby John was already filled with the Holy Spirit.  And, baby Jesus was in Mary’s womb.  So, this precious moment was the first time John the Baptist was in the presence of Jesus.  Baby John leaped to attention.  Elisabeth noticed.  And, she, too, was filled with the Spirit as she hailed Mary, the Mother of the Messiah, and blessed the Embryo in Mary’s womb.  JOseph was impressed.  He knew he was in the presence of two miracle babies and two marvelous mothers.

 

Elisabeth was delighted.  Mary had come to visit her. And, Elisabeth was amazed when Mary said that she would be staying and assisting her until she brought forth her son.  Elisabeth complimented Mary for believing the promisees she had received from the Lord.  She remembered how hard it had been for her to believe the promises Zacharias had received while serving in the Temple.

 

 

Mary Spoke Ecstatically.

 

Suddenly, the Holy Spirit filled Mary’s heart with a glorious thought: The men and women involved in these two miracle births were ordinary people.  She had heard it said, “When the Messiah comes, He will be the son of a king or an high priest.”  But, that assertion was far from true.  Instead, God was using people of low estate to usher the Messiah into the world.  Luke penned what Mary said in that moment of inspiration ...

... Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.  (Luke 1:46-55 KJV)

 

Obviously, Mary was a serious Bible student.  She knew the history of the Jews.  She understood that God had blessed the Jews who trusted Him and feared Him from generation to generation.  She knew that King David was not born to a king.  Nor was he the son of an high priest.  And so, it seemed proper that Jesus, who would ascend to the throne of David, should not be born to a king or an high priest.  For sure, she was amazed that God had chosen her, a virgin of low estate, to be the Mother of the Messiah.  And, that God had opened the womb of Elisabeth in her old age to bring forth another miracle child.  She did not yet know what the future would bring forth, but she knew God was implementing a marvelous plan.  She felt exalted.  To be used of God was her desire.

 

And, in her glorious declaration, Mary had voiced a sentiment that Jesus would often preach, “The last shall be first, and the first last ... (Matthew 20:16 KJV)”

Luke noted that Mary stayed with Elisabeth and helped meet her needs till baby John was born.

... Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.  (Luke 1:56 KJV)

 

 

John the Baptist Was Born.

 

Near the longest day of the year, in the heat of  Summer, Elisabeth brought forth her miracle baby.  Ladies in the neighborhood and Mary and other cousins of Elisabeth were there to help with the birth.  All agreed.  They had never seen a lady of her age bear a child.  And, everything went well.  All were thrilled.  They rejoiced, especially Elisabeth.  Luke gave this report ...

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.  (Luke 1:57-58 KJV)

 

 

Baby John Was Circumcised.

 

Eight days later, the local rabbi and his medical assistant were summoned to the home of Zacharias.  They came to circumcise baby John.  The rabbi needed to know what name he should use for the boy in the circumcision ceremony.  It was his custom to ask the father to supply the name for his son.  But, the rabbi knew that Zacharias was unable to speak.  So, he assumed the boy was to share his father’s name, especially since, it was Zacharias’ firstborn son.  As he conducted the ritual, he called baby John “Zacharias”.  Elisabeth reacted with a loud, “Not so! Call him John.”  The rabbi felt compelled to confer with the father, before he did that.  Then, Zacharias used a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.”  It was so unusual that those gathered there marveled.  But, Elisabeth simply declared, “God said we must name him John.”  Luke memorialized the moment with these words ...

... it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.  (Luke 1:59-63 KJV)

 

 

God Restored Zacharias’ Voice.

 

As soon as Zacharias finished writing John’s name, his tongue was loosened, just as the angel Gabriel had said.  He rose to his feet and praised the Lord.  He reviewed the whole miraculous saga, from the day he had served in the Temple to the day of circumcision.  All present were mightily impressed, and his testimony was echoed throughout the region.  No doubt, John was a miracle baby.  Everyone wondered what plans God had for him.  Luke noted ...

... his [Zacharias’] mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. 

(Luke 1:64-66 KJV)

 

 

Zacharias Prophesied.

 

Zacharias had been unable to speak for nine months.  He and his wife had communicated with gestures and notations.  He had not been able to interact easily with friends and colleagues.  During this period of semi-isolation, he had meditated.  Over and over, he pondered the prophecies Gabriel had voiced in the Temple.  “The Lord is coming to Israel,” he had said, “and your son will be a prophet in the mold of Elijah.  He will proclaim the imminent appearance of the Messiah.  He will urge his listeners to purge their souls of any sin guilt they harbor -- to live God-fearing lives -- to seek instruction from godly men -- to clear the way for the Messiah to enter their hearts.”

 

When Mary had come to assist Elisabeth, Zacharias had heard the inspired words of his wife and of Mary.  So, he knew that Mary was about to bring forth the Messiah.  His mind was full of wonderful thoughts, but he had not been able to proclaim them.  As his voice returned, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he rose to deliver a wide-ranging and insightful prophecy to those who had gathered for his son’s Circumcision Ceremony.  Luke recorded his words ...

... his father, Zechariah,[Zacharias] was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:  “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant -- the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”  (Luke 1:67-79 NLT)

Zacharias began by thanking God for sending the Savior into the world.  Some of his listeners may have thought he was speaking of his son, but he voided that thought by saying that the Savior was from the lineage of King David.  Baby John was from the house of Levi.  Zacharias was speaking of Mary’s Son, whose mother and step-father were from the house of David.  Zacharias emphasized that the advent of the Messiah was the fulfillment of promises God had made to Abraham and predictions God had made through Israel’s prophets.  And, it is important to note that Zacharias spoke of Jesus as if He had already come into the world.  He had, but He was still in Mary’s womb.

 

Then, Zacharias embraced his little son and said, “You, my son, will be the prophet of the Messiah.  You will prepare the hearts of many for His Ministry!  A new day will dawn for Israel.  The Messiah will lead us into a new era.  We will take the Message of the Messiah to the world, bringing light to those who are lost in darkness and life to those who stand condemned in the shadow of death.”

 

John Chose

To Live In the Wilderness.

 

As an adult, John lived in a wilderness region North and East of Jerusalem.  It lay on both sides of the Jordan River.  Some ancient writers alleged that his father, Zacharias, was put to death by Herod the Great, causing John’s mother to flee with him to the wilderness when he was a little boy.  John disdained city life.  He preferred a rustic setting.  Glimpses of him in Bible passages indicate he was spiritual, a serious Bible student, a hunter-gatherer, and an austere man who wore garments made of animal skins and natural fibers.  

... the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.  (Luke 1:80 KJV)