Luke 1:26 ~ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren

Carl Heirich Bloch painted Mary and Elizabeth


Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ^{[Blessed are you among women] 29} But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. ³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

The Talmud records of the Sanhedrin Council for the time of Jesus living - as the certainty concerning the things you have been taught- and are still available today. 2,000 years ago, this was big news in Israel and the religious government records still exist. (Jesus, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, 1 Peter 2:25.) Very few of Mary's family have been recorded. Her father was recorded in the Talmud records. If you will recall, Elizabeth and her mute priest husband Zechariah, decided not to reveal Elizabeth's pregnancy. Mary may have just found out about it from the angel.

When we pray and ask Father God for blessings, the way isn't strewn with roses and red carpeting. The hand of God is at work, and we have a vision, 2 angel visits, a mute priest who was formerly a barren priest, and more than likely - some stress all around. Mary's home with her mother and father are not recorded in Scriptures, but Mary comes to stay with Elizabeth for 3 months.

When life makes the path just wear down and feel out - God provides a way forward. A desired haven of His Love and Comfort. It is up to us today - to be grateful - for what He does provide. It is always our choice. We can be bitter or we can be blessed. There is a, of course, the saying fools rush in where angels fear to tread. In the joy of Mary and Elizabeth - surely Gabriel was pleased to be God's messenger. Gabriel brought the Good News, and today, it is very much still our Good News of Jesus Christ. Our Lord. King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

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