Abstract
Micah 5.2–5a; Luke 1.46b–55 or Psalm 80.1–7; Hebrews 10.5–10; Luke 1.39–45 (46–55)
Many of you will likely have told someone, in some way, that you were expecting a baby. The news to share. The joy. The anxiety. The fear. The anticipation. These days it’s not only about sharing the news, but about telling it through surprises and gender reveals! And I expect there were times when the person you were telling was also expecting! Emotions run high in situations like this. Excited, yet nervous. Fearful, yet amazed. Our two mothers-to-be in the readings today, Elizabeth and Mary, are no different. It is the first time they have seen each other since they both learnt they were expecting. And they are full of amazement and delight. And they both had the ultimate gender reveal!
But before we go on with their story, let’s go back to that moment that all expectant mothers can associate with, that very moment when they first know they are having a baby, and the thoughts and feelings that surface at the time. Feelings that are often conflicting, such as excitement, fear, elation, anxiety, wonder, and even angst. And there is the unknown. To bring a child into the world is a great responsibility. And is one of the biggest gambles any person can take, for there is no way of knowing what will happen, or who this child will grow to be.
When Mary discovers she is with child, she is young and isn’t married. We could well imagine her thoughts. Her worry even. What would people say? What would her parents say? What would her fiancé say? Being unmarried and having a baby would have been enough for her to be ostracised and stigmatised. But on top of that her betrothed is not the father. To find answers, or to simply find reassurance and comfort, Mary visits her relative, Elizabeth.
Even though Mary hasn’t told Elizabeth about the baby, Elizabeth knows. And Elizabeth rejoices. We could well imagine Mary’s relief as Elizabeth enthuses over Mary and cries out, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb’. (Luke 1:42b) Elizabeth’s baby even leaps with joy at the sound of Mary’s greeting! In this surreal moment for these two women, one could imagine them smiling, excitedly looking at each other, and embracing. Yet this scene, with all its resonance for women today, that is being played out two thousand years ago, leads us into a much deeper story. A story of promise.
As the women talk, we can imagine Elizabeth thinking about the promise made to her husband, Zechariah. That even though they were getting on in years, a son would be given to them, and he would be named John. Now Elizabeth rejoices, in not only the fulfilment of the promise made to Zechariah and herself, but in the promise that Mary has now become part of. And Elizabeth proclaims with wonder, ‘why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?’ (Luke 1:43)
It is in this moment of joy, that the women are swept up in history and transported back in time. To the time of old. To ancient days. To a time of promise. A promise of restoration. For as the prophet Micah announced, from Bethlehem shall come forth ‘one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.’ (5:2b) Micah foretells that ‘when she who is in labour has brought forth’ (5:3b), the man yet to be born will ‘stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord’ (5:4a) Because of this man, they will ‘live secure’. He will ‘be great to the ends of the earth’, and ‘will be the one of peace.’ (5:4c–5).
In that moment between Mary and Elizabeth, this promise, this ancient promise of redemption, of restoration, has come to rest on the young Mary. She will be the one ‘who is in labour’ and brings forth the baby, who will become this man. The plea for salvation, the plea for restoration has echoed down through the ages. Reverberating through generations, as it says in the Psalm; ‘Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.’ (Psalm 80:3).
Of all the women of Israel this miracle, this responsibility, could have been afforded to, it was given to Mary. She would bear the child, the one that would come forth from Bethlehem. So she relishes the moment. For as she says, the Lord, ‘has looked with favour on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed’ (Luke 1:48). In that moment Mary is thrust into the annals of history, knowing that indeed the Lord’s ‘mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.’ (Luke 1:50).
With humility, Mary accepted, for better or worse, that she would be part of history in the making. With all her concerns, all her worries of what could be, she believed. She believed that what was spoken to her would come to pass and she would have a son.
Elizabeth knew all too well the repercussions of not believing the promise of the Lord. Believing in the promise, is key. For when Zechariah did not believe the promise of a son, he became mute, and unable to speak (Luke 1:20). It is the belief in the promise that creates blessing.
As we imagine Elizabeth and Mary, standing at a pivotal point in history two thousand years ago, they are at a turning point for humanity. Thirty years on, and Mary is at the foot of the cross on which her adult son, Jesus, the Jew, hangs. We can only imagine her thoughts and grief as she looked at him. She had taken him to be circumcised when he was a baby (Luke 2:21). They had presented him to the Lord at their time of purification (Luke 2:22), and had ‘offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law’ (Luke 2:24a). Since he was a boy, he had attended the Passover each year with his family in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41), and he celebrated the Jewish festivals (John 4:45; 7:10; 10:22). Jesus honoured God with his whole being, his whole life. We can only imagine Mary’s thoughts as she witnessed her son’s personal devotion. Yet now on a cross hung the promise of God.
As we heard in the letter to the Hebrews, sin offerings and burnt offerings were not pleasing to the Lord (10:6). It was ‘impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins’ (10:4), for in such sacrifices, offered year after year, there is a ‘reminder of sin’ (10:3), because worshipers, were not ‘cleansed once for all’ (10:2). And so Jesus gave of himself, to do God’s will. The ultimate offering for the salvation and restoration of the world. Jesus came, was crucified and raised, to cleanse once, and for all.
But from the time of the letter to the Hebrews, we are catapulted two thousand years into the future, and as we look back over history from our present perspective we may indeed question; did Jesus really change the world? From what we see in our world today, we could well ask, where is the restoration? The salvation that came from his sacrifice? As the author of Hebrews says ‘it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all’ (10:10). As believers we are sanctified, we are blessed, but on a global level we could ask, where is the evidence of this sanctification? This restoration?
As flawed humans we have continued to distort the faith and belief of Mary, of Elizabeth, and the author of Hebrews. So many atrocities have been committed in the name of Jesus, in the name of Christianity. Wars. Pillaging. Rape. Abuse. Violations of trust. Jesus was to be the ‘one of peace’ (Micah 5:5), who would ‘stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord’ (5:4a).
Now many stand in a void. A void of confusion. Of mistrust. Of angst. Questioning, what went wrong? Why is the world not a better place because of Jesus? Because of the promises?
But let us remember, belief was at the core. Faith, fundamental. The need to believe that things would be fulfilled in their time. We stand two thousand years on from when Mary and Elizabeth met that day, when they were full of wonder and excitement, not only for the prospect of new life, but for the prospect of promises fulfilled. It is now, maybe more than ever, that we need to embrace their joy, their enthusiasm, and allow Jesus to shine through. To allow Jesus to be the Messiah, and create that turning point again in history, that will condense time from the ancient days to the present, and indeed usher in peace, so all can live secure.