December 21, Elizabeth

Day 22, December 21

Persons: Elizabeth

Theme/Event: Joy

Symbol: Elizabeth

Elizabeth and Zechariah had not only been waiting for their Savior. Elizabeth and Zechariah had been waiting for a baby.

Luke 1:5-17

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
⁸ So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴ And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

The Lord had heard their prayers! They were to be blessed with a son, a son that would be great in the sight of the Lord and who would prepare the people for Jesus’ coming. What incredible joy to be a part of God’s plan! And part of God’s plan was for Elizabeth and Mary, Jesus’ mother, to spend some time together while they were pregnant.

Luke 1:39-45, 57-58

³⁹ Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, ⁴⁰ and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”… ⁵⁷ Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. ⁵⁸ When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

Everyone who heard about God’s plan was filled with joy. John, while still a baby in his Mommy’s tummy, leaped for joy when he heard Mary’s voice. All of Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives rejoiced with her when John was born. There is incredible joy when something we have waited for a long time happens to us. We can have joy in hard times, knowing that God keeps His promises and His plans for us are always good. What joy we can have in knowing that because Jesus came to earth, God is always with us.

Questions:

• What is joy?
  
• Why was Elizabeth joyful?
  
• What are you joyful for?

Prayer: Dear God, help us to be joyful. Thank you for giving us so many reasons to praise You.