The Baby Leaped for Joy
Scripture Reading — Luke 1:39-45
“As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”
—Luke 1:44
In our Western culture it seems that pregnancies are cele-brated publicly and proudly. Young fathers-to-be declare, “We are pregnant!” Mothers-to-be proudly show their “baby bump”—not just to family and friends, but even at work and to strangers on the elevator.
And everyone seems excited. Why? Because a new life has begun; a baby is on the way!
Tomorrow we begin the season of Advent, getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This is such a momentous event that, as Luke tells us, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy. That baby was John, who later became John the Baptist and prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry when they became adults.
Even as their mothers were pregnant with Jesus and John, the promise of new life was being fulfilled after many centuries. The impact of this new life brought great joy to many—and we share that joy still today. It offers new life and hope to a world of oppression, depression, and recession.
A carol that we may sing this season speaks of “tidings of comfort and joy.” Baby John was way ahead of us; he jumped for joy even before being born, for the Savior’s birth is a word of joy and comfort for people everywhere.
Let’s explore that joy together this month!
Father in heaven, thank you for keeping your promises and bringing the joy of new life in Christ. Wake us up, wherever we need it, so that we may believe and rejoice. Amen.
About the author — Morris Greidanus
Beginning in 1964, Morris Greidanus served churches in Alberta, Ontario, and Michigan. He was campus pastor at the University of Toronto from 1968 to 1974. After retiring in 2002, he served on various interim tasks in churches and educational institutions until he passed away in 2017. Morris and his wife, Alice, were married 58 years and had three children, five grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren.
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