Page 17 - November 2025 - Truth & Tidings

in the womb. But Scripture is clear: At the that Mary’s child would be the promised
moment of conception, a new human life Messiah (cf. Psa 110:1). But Luke may
begins. It’s possible someone reading this be emphasizing for his readers a claim
made the decision to abort a baby some- to Christ’s deity here. After all, he uses
time in your past. Please know that God’s “Lord” in verse 16 to refer to John’s
grace is big enough to embrace you. “The work of turning many in Israel “to the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us Lord their God.” Luke likely wants us to
from all sin. … If we confess our sins, he conclude that, yes, Jesus is “the Lord.”
is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, Elisabeth not only spoke of Mary’s
and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- blessing but that of the child within her:
ness” (1Jn 1:7,9). “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” The
Observe again that Dr. Luke ascribes child Mary bore was special and was the
the emotion of joy to this unborn baby, reason why Mary was blessed for being
for Elisabeth said, “The babe leaped in His chosen vessel.
my womb for joy” (v44). If we question But let’s not miss the third use of the
her words, please note that she said this word “blessed” on Elisabeth’s lips: “And
while “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v41). blessed is she that believed: for there shall
2
John was not a mere clump of cells but a be a performance of those things which
human being, able to feel and express joy were told her from the Lord” (v45). Mary
while in his mother’s womb. was not only blessed for bearing but
blessed for believing, something Elisa-
Elisabeth Shouting beth’s husband failed to do (v20). Later,
It was probably only seconds later. during the public ministry of her Son, a
John leaped, but then Elisabeth shouted: woman in the crowd shouted and said
“And she spake out with a loud voice, and to the Lord Jesus, “Blessed is the womb
said, Blessed art thou among women, and that bare thee … But he said, Yea rather,
blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (v42). blessed are they that hear the word of God,
Perhaps part of Mary’s greeting included and keep it” (Luk 11:27-28). Mary fell into
the news received from Gabriel, and this this latter and more significant category of
is how Elisabeth knew about “the fruit of blessing also, believing and obeying the
[her] womb.” Or maybe Zacharias was Word of God.
busy at the writing tablet with the Scrip- We close by pointing out some practical
tures opened, communicating to her that, lessons from Mary’s visit with Elisabeth.
based on the prophetic Word, the Messiah First, notice the fellowship enjoyed. Here
must be arriving soon. We are not told. But were two women, separated by a signifi-
she loudly exclaimed how blessed among cant age gap. One was a teenager and the
women Mary was for the privilege of bear- other “well stricken in years” (v18). Yet
ing “the mother of my Lord” (v43). At a there was fellowship, openness, respect
minimum, her use of the expression “my and love for one another. What an example
Lord” indicates that Elisabeth recognized today to foster fellowship across each gen-
eration. Like Mary, we should not hesitate
2 Notice the role of the Holy Spirit in Luke’s to spend time with senior saints, especially
infancy narratives of John and the Lord Jesus those who share the same trust in God’s
(1:15,35,41,67; 2:25,26,27). Word. R. Kent Hughes helpfully wrote,
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