Luke 1:39-80

Two important events occur in this chapter.

First, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth. This would have taken considerable effort, and would be rare for a pregnant woman in Mary’s era. Yet Mary is destined to go. When she walks into the house, Elizabeth greets her with the words, 'the baby within me jumped with gladness'.

What a revelation! One which could startle even modern day science. One baby (the future John) in the womb recognizing another baby (the future Jesus) in a separate womb.

Could the embryo John know that the Messiah or Saviour was only centimetres away physically as their mothers greeted each other with a hug? And yet, they were worlds apart. The relationship could be visualized as 3 stages of existence - the individual worlds of two wombs and the world into which the two wombs would eventually deliver their precious cargoes. Should this be possible, what are the implications for human interaction and communications from womb to womb?

The second event centred upon the naming of Elizabeth's baby. This was a sacred occasion and certain traditional protocols had to be followed. She wanted to name the baby JOHN; the relatives tried to dissuade her, and to call him after his father (the right thing to do). Eventually, the father Zechariah settled the bickering by writing the name JOHN upon a slate.

Maybe at that moment Zechariah understood why he had not been able to talk for many months. Now when he agreed to obey God, his life changed, and perhaps he finally comprehended what God had chosen him and Elizabeth to do, even though he may not have understood why it was being done.

Occasionally in our own lives we look back and understand why something happened to us months or years before. Maybe we even comprehend that God was guiding us in a certain direction to accomplish God’s work. And we, like Zechariah, experience a ‘eureka moment’ when the lights go on in our minds (able to speak again) and we understand the ‘why’ of what had happened. Maybe we even sing God’s praises (or thanksgiving) for the revelation.

Then in one sentence, Luke covered John's growth and his heading into 'the desert' as to prepare for the next task God would assign the one who would be nicknamed 'the Baptist'.

Question - How as God guided your life to where you are now?

Tomorrow's reading: Luke 2:1-51.

(Today's post submitted by guest writer, Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)