Two Strange Pregnancies
Scripture Reading — Luke 1:39-45
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb …
Luke 1:41
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Can you imagine the gossiping that took place in Zechariah and Elizabeth’s hometown when Mary showed up? The villagers already had one mystery on their hands: the pregnancy of elderly Elizabeth! Now a young girl named Mary had arrived to visit Elizabeth, and she was pregnant too!
I’m sure people noticed that there was no husband with her. Maybe they wondered where she had come from and why she was there. Had displeased parents sent her away to live with relatives? Or had she simply run away from home? At any rate, now there were two pregnancies in the village that were unusual.
Perhaps a few people thought back to Israel’s past when other strange pregnancies had resulted from the extraordinary working of God. Maybe they thought of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, who had birthed Isaac in her old age. Maybe they thought of Manoah’s wife, who gave birth to Samson in spite of her barrenness. Maybe they thought of Elkanah’s wife Hannah, who became Samuel’s mother despite her inability to conceive.
But while there may have been gossiping in the village, there was rejoicing in the heart of Elizabeth and inside her womb! God had done a new and extraordinary work: now a virgin was with child! It was enough to make the unborn child in Elizabeth’s womb leap for joy!
Dear Lord, with that virgin’s child, you sent us the gift of reconciliation. Thank you! Teach us to love as you have loved us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
About the author — Dave Den Haan
Dave Den Haan is an ordained minister who works for Thrive, the Christian Reformed Church in North America agency that equips and encourages congregations. His main focus is to serve churches experiencing conflict and challenge. Before working with Thrive, Dave served as a pastor to two congregations, one in Minnesota and one in Michigan. He and his wife, Connie, have three married children and two grandchildren.
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