Tag: Elizabeth

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Encounter #3

An Old Auntie, A Young Niece, And 2 Pre-born Cousins

“Soon afterwards, Mary hurried to a city in the mountain region of Judah. She
entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.”
Luke 1:39-40 (-56)

As Mary saw her beloved cousin’s home come into view, her mixture of emotions and thoughts must have become intense. The “Moment of Truth” was in sight. Mary was focused on Elizabeth’s home. Elizabeth would be surprised to see her young niece getting out of the cart. . . no phone message. . . no postcard . . . likely no forewarning whatsoever.

But as Elizabeth comes out of her house and Mary walks toward her, Elizabeth pauses as she experiences a strange sensation from deep inside. Her unborn baby reacts to the young girl’s approach. . . with a “leap” inside his mother. Pre-born Spirit connected to Pre-born Spirit. There was Joy. . . Joy that the old mother recognized in the baby she carried so near to her own heart. Two baby boys. . . with the Spirit of God already in them . . .had words.

Spirit to Spirit needed no words.

God was at work. . . in the hearts and minds of two women. . . one old and one young. Two women who had lived their lives choosing to follow God, no matter what it might require of them. And God was at work in the spirits of two tiny, unborn “miracle” boys. . . ordained by God Himself to carry out their individual, ordained roles in the Story God was unfolding for the sake of the world.

God provided a Moment in Time for two mothers-in-waiting. Relatives. . . two women, one old, one young, who needed a safe place to talk, share their hearts, fears, joys. . .

Two mothers, each carrying her tiny, pre-born, miracle baby boy. Each tiny boy was sent by God to carry out his specific Mission. Both mothers would experience unspeakable joy and heartbreak as they watched the Paths each son would follow as God had ordained. Each son would die horrible deaths at the hands of wicked leaders. But each son would impact their world for God’s Kingdom. John pointed the way to eternal life. Jesus made the way for eternal life through forgiveness of sin. An elderly auntie . . . a young girl . . . both with a
Divine Calling to birth sons who would impact and change the world. Both sons’ life sacrifices would bring people to the knowledge of God’s reality and His provision for humanity to have eternal life.

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Encounter #2

A Teenage Girl and a Messenger of God

Luke 1:26-38

Mary, a young teenage girl, lived in Nazareth, a region near the sea of Galilee. It was some distance from Jerusalem, where the Temple was the Centerpiece of Israel. But Nazareth was a quieter area, where fishing, farming and flocks of sheep were common. Mary was engaged to marry a young man named Joseph, a local carpenter whose family had a respected lineage in Israel’s history.

One day, an unexpected Visitor came to Mary’s family home. But the Visitor greeted young Mary first, with these words: “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you!”

Mary was startled. This was not the usual way that visitors began a greeting in a family home. He addressed Mary specifically . . . a young, teenage girl. Normally the parents were the first to be addressed. But He spoke her name.

The Visitor continued. . . He said, “You are favored by the Lord. The Lord is with you.”

Mary was startled by these words, and was trying to figure out what this greeting meant.
Normally, guests first spoke with the head of the family. . . not a young daughter. Little
did Mary know that God’s #1 Angel was the had ever carried such a Message since the
Earth was Created.

The Visitor (Angel) continued. . .“Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God.

You will become pregnant,
Give birth to a son,
And name him Jesus.
He will be a great man
And will be called
‘The Son of the Most High.’

The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever,
And His kingdom will never end.”

Mary was startled . . . and confused. . . with good reason! She was not married, and she was a virgin. The Visitor (Angel) continued, with care and more clarity for this young girl whose life would never be the same again, nor like that of anyone else in all of history. But young Mary knew God. She knew Him as her Savior.

The Visitor provided more details of what was soon to take place in Mary’s life:
● The tiny baby she would carry within her was a boy
● The Baby’s name: Jesus
● He would be the greatest Man of all
● His Title would be “Son of the Most High
● He would inherit the Throne of King Daivd (his ancestor)
● His Kingship would be over all the people within the ancestry of Jacob
forever

● His Kingdom will never end.

In that quiet, Sacred Moment, alone with God’s Angel. . . the young girl spoke the words that were in her mind and tender heart. No questions. In what was perhaps one of the weightiest Moments in all of human history, a young girl opened her heart, her future, her total being. . . and spoke the words that would impact all of History from that Holy, deeply personal Moment on. “I will do what You have Said.”

How does a young, sheltered teenage girl begin to understand such a message? Who is this Stranger in the room? A young virgin being told she will begin to carry a baby in her body. . . a baby who is the Messiah that her ancestors through centuries had been awaiting to become their Perfect, Just King Who would at last change their world into the future World that God had Promised so long ago. She knew the stories. They had been passed down throughout centuries to her own people, to her own time, and for her people’s future for all Time.

The Angel had said that her fiance Joseph would be the one walking through this unimaginable future with her. She would not face this alone. There was a Plan. The Prophecies that her people had held in their minds and hearts for centuries were
beginning to unfold in her time. In her and Joseph’s family line. . . and into their own home . . . into their own lives . . . into her own body…her own arms. It was to begin now.

Mary’s heart and mind was swirling . . . she was so young. She had to talk to someone.
Who in the world could possibly understand any of this. Who could hold her, care for
her, help her step through this one-time-in-global-history experience? She could only
imagine the probable reactions of the people she loved most, not to mention the
probable reactions of the people of her sheltered world. . . her mother. . . her father . .
girlfriends, neighbors, cousins, . . . all of the circle of relationships that made up her
small world in Nazareth.

Who could ever believe her? Where could she feel safe? Elizabeth. Her sweet, wise, loving “favorite cousin.” The angel knew her, and knew that Mary would desperately need someone in this life-changing Moment. Elizabeth would understand. She would be safe . . . wise . . . caring. . .and experiencing her own miracle pregnancy. Perfect.

The young girl gathered her things and with her parent’s blessing (of course!) and
began her journey to dear Elizabeth’s home. She would be safe in Elizabeth and Zechariah’s home. She would be welcomed, and loved. It would be the perfect place to begin thinking and talking through the realities that she was only beginning to imagine. She was so young. Aunt Elizabeth had never had a baby, but she was so wise. . . she would know what to do.

God would have to handle the overwhelming realities to come. But in that Moment, Mary knew she needed a safe place, a caring face, a loving heart, and the words of wisdom from a dear one she could trust. Both Wise Aunt Elizabeth and young Mary were in for a Delightful, Divine Surprise!

God knows the emotional needs that arise throughout the seasons of our lives. Cross-
generational relational connections are a sweet way to share experiences, struggles,
perspectives, advice and care throughout our years and seasons of life. Mentors who have lived through struggles, heartaches, and loss have gems of truth that can shed light on our present realities. A rocky relationship . . . a challenging pregnancy, hurtful whispers and judgements. . .life dreams that seem to crumble. . . insecurity about the future. . . God’s ancient people experienced those realities. Their stories and ancient words of Wisdom can bring light for our own hearts and struggles.