The Other Mother

Jesus’ mom gets most of the attention at Christmas, and rightfully so. However, she is not the only mother mentioned in Luke 1. Intentionally reminiscent, of Israelites’ patriarch and matriarch, Abraham and Sarah, the writer introduces us to Zachariah and Elizabeth. She is “the other mother” of the Incarnation story of God coming to earth to be with us.

Verses 5-7 contain the first lines of her story as the writer opens with some pretty easily overlooked facts about this couple, and Elizabeth specifically. “Both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.” Elizabeth lived her life doing everything right, everything that was expected of her.

This is important because the next lines would have made the original audience question Elizabeth’s character and moral make-up. The fact they had no children was attributed to two things: 1. Elizabeth was barren and 2. both were advanced in years. During that time and in that culture, if a couple were childless it was commonly, and fiercely believed that it was all the woman’s fault AND that she must have done something that displeased God. Why else would He deny her the privilege of fulfilling this God-ordained role for all women?

We know scientifically and theologically differently today. Even this story reads - her walk with God was blameless. Elizabeth had done nothing wrong, but she could not do anything to change her childless state. The author of the narrative is foreshadowing that something big, something life changing is about to transpire in Elizabeth’s story.

Her husband, a priest, goes off to minister in the temple and “just happens” to have his name called for a special assignment to venture into the holy place. There, unbeknownst, to anyone outside of that holy place, including Elizabeth, he is visited by an angel and given such remarkable, unbelievable news that even he denies and doubts its validity. The angel leaves him mute and he comes home to try to communicate to his life-long wife that they will have a baby and that they will name him John.

The story doesn’t elaborate on how Zechariah breaks this news to Elizabeth, but somehow he finds a way because in verses 24 we learn that she conceives and conceals. The author doesn’t tell us why she hides herself. I would’ve thought she would have been broadcasting it from the mountain tops, but no, she secludes herself. Perhaps seeking and finding and celebrating and trusting everything that is changing her life and situation with the God who is doing for her what she could not do for herself.

When she does speak, her words are recorded in verse 25 and they are profound. God saw her. God took away her reproach among the people. She knows God never forgot her. She knows that now everyone knows she did nothing wrong before the Lord. She is 5 months into her miraculous pregnancy - but little does she know that God is doing something more, something bigger, something greater than rewarding her faithfulness.

Luke’s story shifts now to the more well-known mother of the nativity story. He tells of Mary’s visit from the angel and how that angel spills Elizabeth’s secret to Mary. Mary goes to visit and stay with Elizabeth where more of this “other mother’s” story is told.

Elizabeth’s baby “jumps” in the womb with Mary’s arrival and Elizabeth herself is given another pretty incredible gift. Very few of God’s followers were ever bestowed with the Holy Spirit before Jesus’ birth. Yet, here is an account of woman receiving such a blessing. When the Spirit fills Elizabeth (verse 41) she speaks prophetically, identifying and edifying Mary’s maternal state, carrying the Messiah within her womb. Imagine how encouraged Mary must have been when she heard Elizabeth’s words. God used Elizabeth to let Mary know she wasn’t crazy. She had been visited by an angel and the things he had said were coming to fruition.

Mary stays on with Elizabeth a few months. Some simple math, may insinuate that Mary was with Elizabeth when it came time for Elizabeth to give birth. It isn’t hard to imagine how God used those days, those weeks, for the two mothers to minister and strengthen one another physically and spiritually. Mary would have to deliver her baby by herself. Elizabeth’s birth story would have been saturated with invaluable, practical knowledge. They were both or would be all too familiar with the social stigmas and stares from assuming and unknowing people in their society. God gave each of these mothers a special gift in the other.

But there is more to Elizabeth’s story. God isn’t done using her yet.

Well-meaning friends and relatives were there when it was time to present and formally name Elizabeth’s baby. They assumed this little baby boy would bear his father, Zechariah’s name. Elizabeth spoke up and insisted that he was to be named “John.” They argued with her until the father was finally consulted and could confirm Elizabeth’s claim. When Zechariah’ writes “John,” confirming both Elizabeth’s and the angel’s instructions he receives back his voice.

The chapter ends with this overjoyed father’s own Holy Spirit filled song of prophecy and praise for John’s future purpose and promise. Elizabeth, and the rest of their acquaintances, now knew a little more of how significant this baby boy would be. Verse 66 explains that the people laid up these things in their hearts and wondered what this child will be. They knew that the “hand of the Lord was with him.” The very last verse of the chapter explains that John “grew and became strong in spirit . . . until the day of his public appearance in Israel.”

Like Jesus, John was foretold about by the Old Testament prophets. He was the one that would make the way in the wilderness and become the voice crying in the desert to make way for the coming of the Lord. He would baptize many and one day, baptize Jesus. He would speak up for truth and he would die a martyr’s death - All of these things were beyond his mother’s knowledge and understanding at the time. God did immeasurably more for Elizabeth than she had ever asked for or imagined.

Why am I recounting this other mother’s tale on this Christmas Eve?

This is the passage that God has been teaching me from this advent season. Here are some of the truths that have been echoing in my head and reverberating in my heart:

• Elizabeth was doing all the right things, but still couldn’t do enough to fill the void in her heart. She didn’t blame God for being childless, she walked blamelessly with him. ~ There are circumstances in my life right now that I cannot figure out, that I do not understand, and that I can find overwhelming BUT, I see in Elizabeth’s story that I need to continue to seek to be obedient to His word and his ways in the waiting. Like Elizabeth, I will trust in Him.

• God saw Elizabeth. He had big plans for her that could only be realized on the other side of her struggle. He intervenes and uses her hardships to minister to His Son’s mother, to proclaim His goodness to a questioning world and to raise John the Baptist. ~ God was faithful to Elizabeth in her story, I can trust him to be faithful to me in mine. He has a purpose and plan for my life. He has placed me intentionally where I am and He is using me beyond my understanding. He is doing something. Like Elizabeth, I will trust in Him.

• God sends His Spirit to be WITH Elizabeth, enabling her to do all these things He had planned for her to do. He did not leave her alone to try to figure all of this out on her own. ~ The Holy Spirit is with me as well. Filled from the moment of my conversion, I have access to the power and the presence of God in every aspect of my life, to enable me to fulfill all that He has ordained for me to become and to do. God WITH me - Emmanuel. Jesus, Emmanuel - God WITH us, the very meaning of Christmas, inside of me now and always. Like Elizabeth, I will trust in Him.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash