Today I want to focus on Elizabeth's greeting when Mary came to visit her.
Elizabeth was about 6 months pregnant when Mary arrived to stay a few months with her. The Bible documents their first interaction in Luke 1 beginning with verse 39:
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
I absolutely love God's affirmation to both of them in that instant. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she (Elizabeth) felt her baby leap in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and under the power of the Holy Spirit she passionately proclaimed, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!.... And she heaped blessings on Mary for believing what God had revealed to her through the angel.
And Mary stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months, and then returned to Nazareth when Elizabeth was about to give birth.
We can only imagine what a joyous time they had together! Zechariah was unable to speak, and Elizabeth had been in isolation, so having Mary there to talk with - and share what God had done in each of their lives - and try to imagine what that would mean.... Lots to wonder about!
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