Shared Secrets

     Do a few special people come to mind when you need to share exceptionally good news? More than likely these are the same ones you run to with news that is not so good. Our loved ones increase our joy and cut our burdens in half. Life is meant to be shared.

     Yesterday, we shared some good news with Elizabeth and Zechariah. They were to have a baby boy in their old age. Today, Gabriel makes another visit, about six months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy. This time it is not only good news. It is THE GOOD NEWS of all time. I encourage you to read through the full exchange between Gabriel and Mary beginning at verse 26 in the 1st chapter of the book of Luke. The part I want to share today is this:

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:35-37

     Mary responds in obedience and immediately gets ready and travels to the home of her relative, Elizabeth. Wouldn’t you love to hear the entire conversation as they compare their encounters with Gabriel? The names of their sons are chosen; John and Jesus. One is to prepare the way. The other is The Way. There was so much to share. Mary would stay with Elizabeth for three months.

     This 1st chapter of Luke’s gospel is filled with the Holy Spirit. It is filled with rich and deep conversations and songs of praise to God. The angel told Zechariah that his baby boy would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth and we see proof of that at Mary’s arrival to their home. Here is what happens:

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promise to her!” Luke 1:41-44

     This is profound. Don’t you love the exclamation points? Don’t you love the fact that John recognized the Messiah even before their births? Don’t you love the obedience in Mary? She is blessed to believe. And so are we! All we need is to believe in that same news! The One conceived in human form. The One who would one day take the suffering of our sins on His shoulders. The One who will overcome death.

For now, let’s sit and take in the joy of the women sharing this momentous news, pondering the future, making plans, looking ahead to their sons and all they would do for them and for the world.

     Human delight.  A God infused womb. Two of them, in fact. Cousins sharing secrets, secrets soon to be shared and change the world. A shared joy, shared history.

     And we share the same news in hushed wonder. He is born! Over two thousand years later, the news resonates in our souls. A Savior is born. Let’s share it with those we love over these next two weeks. It is the best news. It is meant to be shared.

Jesus,

The story of Your birth continues to amaze and astound us. We can only imagine the hearts of these two faith-filled women. Thank you for Your encounters with us today. Just like Mary, we are blessed to believe. As Gabriel reminds us. Your Word never fails.

Amen