The Way of Love

Mary & Elizabeth had surprise pregnancies.

Elizabeth had been barren, and Mary wasn’t expecting to be pregnant.

Mary went to be with her favorite cousin, Elizabeth.

To share with her the happy news.

To share with her what she had been told about her son.

Maybe to get some support before her family knew.

Mary was pregnant and humbled herself before God.

In contrast, Elizabeth’s husband, Zachariah was told about their son and was made mute for his doubt.

Mary could have easily seen her surprise pregnancy as a dreadful burden.

She could have felt that she wasn’t ready to be a mother.

She risked her death if she claimed she slept with no one, or if Joseph did not claim her son as his own.

She certainly wasn’t expecting to be the mother of the Messiah, the promised one who would bring salvation to all.

While Mary prepared herself, Joseph prepared their home to receive their surprise son, Jesus.

We are often surprised by the conditions we find ourselves in, whether by consequence or divine appointment.

Sometime what we expect to happen, doesn’t happen at all, or not in the way we expected.

We can either view them as a curse or an opportunity for blessing.

God blessed Mary with Jesus, the Messiah, as her son.

When Mary visited Elizabeth, she was filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesying what had only been told to Mary and Joseph by an angels.

Elizabeth called Mary’s still unborn son her Lord!

Elizabeth’s unborn son was even affected with joy!

As soon as Mary greeted Elizabeth, Joy had come. Prophecy was being fulfilled.

Notice how Elizabeth calls Mary “Blessed” twice.

Not because of Mary’s character but because God graced her with his son.

Far from being an unwelcome, unsettling surprise, Mary experienced a blessing, becoming a part of God’s redemptive plan.

His plan includes raising up the humble.

This is why Mary creates her hymn of praise, a hymn similar to Hannah, who had also been given a son, even though she was barren.

Humility is what is called for, and what Mary responds with.

God bound God’s self in covenant to his people, then freed God’s people for eternal life through that self-giving love in Jesus Christ.

Micah prophesied that a great ruler over Israel would come out of the small town of Bethlehem among the tribe of Judah.

As Paul pointed out, Jesus came in humility saying, “Here I am, I have come to do your will, my God.”

How more fitting is he who is called Lord even before he was born!

The Lord of all came from humble beginnings for the humble, that they might be glorified with Christ.

Blessed are those who believe God fulfills promises.

Just as Mary prepared to receive Jesus at birth, we prepare to greet Jesus today and when he returns.

Blessed are those who receive Jesus, to whom God graces with his Holy Spirit.

Blessed are those who believe God who fulfills promises.

These are the ones who become part of God’s redemptive plan to save the world.

Those who are blessed become a blessing.

Those are the ones who understand that the way of God must be paved with self-giving love.

When we love others, we change the world.

How will you become part of changing the world today?