If you are reading this around 8:20 AM, I will be giving the message at a local retirement home.  They have chapel and invite guests to speak and I enjoy doing this three or four times a year.  Today I am speaking on Elizabeth.  It would be a long blog if I copied the whole talk, so I would like to give you some of the highlights.  Cliff notes – and hopefully they will make you want to read this mother’s story taken from Luke 1 and Matthew 3.

ELIZABETH

FROM A NORMAL DAY TO I BET SHE DID NOT SEE THAT COMING

Zachariah and Elizabeth were quite elderly and they had never been blessed with a child.  Although she would have reconciled herself to never having a child, I bet, in the early morning, when she heard the children laughing and playing, her heart would ache.  I bet, when a new baby was named, her arms felt empty.  I am sure, even being obedient to God, Elizabeth often wondered, “Why?” 

It was Zachariah’s turn to enter the altar of incense.  With over 8,000 priests, this honor would only happen once, at the most twice, in any priest’s lifetime.  Zachariah was performing his duties, when an angel appeared and told Zachariah, “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.  He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.  …………  to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

It was then Zachariah blew it.  My goodness, that silly man questioned an angel of God. 

The angel said to him, (Before you read this next part, use your imagination, picture the angel standing there.  Now, in your imagination, have the angel develop an attitude.  Standing very tall, an annoyed look on his face.  Maybe even, a finger now pointing toward poor Zachariah, who has realized he should have kept quiet.)  The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time” 

I can picture Zachariah walking home.  Trying to sort it all out.  Knowing he had to tell Elizabeth.  But how? 

I can picture Elizabeth quietly watching as her husband tried to explain why he couldn’t talk, that they were going to become parents and the baby was going to be a boy.  Then, I think, she turned a cartwheel.

Elizabeth did become pregnant and was enjoying the normal life of a pregnant woman when one day, she heard a greeting. 

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed:  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”  

Zachariah and Elizabeth became the proud parents of a bouncing baby boy.  They named him John.

I am sure, even being obedient to God, Elizabeth often wondered, “Why?” 

Why?  Oh…the child born to Zachariah and Elizabeth was the one needed.  Elizabeth was to give birth to the one that would prepare the way. 

For the Lord’s hand was with John.

Then John consented and baptized Jesus.

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I love Elizabeth.  She has so much to teach each of us.

SHE  WAS  ACCEPTANING  OF  GOD’S  PLAN

With grace and righteousness and obedience, she accepted her lot of an empty womb.  Under the condemning stares of pregnant women, she obeyed even the ordinances of God. 

SHE  WAS  LOVING  AND  COMPASSIONATE

With open arms, an understanding heart and love, she comforted her husband when he came home and gave her the message from the angel. 

SHE  TRUSTED  AND  SHE  WAITED

She trusted God.  Getting pregnant, at her age, had to be a miracle.  And she waited.  She waited nine months.  And after waiting a lifetime, I can imagine those nine months were a time of joy and celebration and dreams fulfilled.

SHE  WAS  NOT  JEALOUS

When Mary came to visit, she did not shout, “For goodness sakes.  I am the daughter of a priest.  The wife of a priest.  I am married.  Why am I not carrying the Lord’s child?”  No!  She honored Mary and called the baby blessed.

SHE  WAS  STRONG – SHE  GAVE  BIRTH

At Elizabeth’s age the delivery would not have been easy.  She had to be strong.

SHE  WAS  HUMBLE

Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and told everyone what this child would do.  Elizabeth quietly held her child.  She became a mother.