Luke the physician wrote how Mary was visited by the “angel Gabriel” and was told she would have a child who was to be the Lord. Her cousin Elisabeth was also pregnant in her old age, and when Mary visited her, she blessed Mary for being the “mother of her Lord”. Luke shared how Mary responded to Elisabeth's blessing by saying, “My soul does magnify the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He has showed strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy. As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever”, and in chapter one and verse fifty-six of his book Luke shared how, “Mary abode with her about three months” where we read:
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
The verse reads, “And Mary abode with her about three months, ...” Luke began with the words, “And Mary” who was the virgin chosen by God to bear His Son and whose name means “their rebellion” “abode with her” which means “lived, dwelt and remained with Elisabeth” “about three months” or “for the length of three months of the year”. Luke shared how Mary stayed with her older cousin “Elisabeth” for three months from the time when she first visited her.
The verse goes on to say, “... and returned to her own house.” Luke continued with the words, “and returned” which means “and turned back” “to her own house” or “to Mary's own dwelling place, abode and habitation”. Luke shared how Mary left “Elisabeth” after “three months” and went back to her own home.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how long Mary stayed with Elisabeth before she “returned” home. Elisabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Mary came to visit, and now Elisabeth was near her birthing time when Mary left. God had his plan for the salvation of mankind, and Mary's timing for leaving was also part of His plan. Elisabeth was bearing the “fore-runner” to Jesus Christ the Messiah who would be born about six months from this time, but before He came on the scene, Elisabeth was to have her child. Those who are wise will think through each of these events and realize the extent that God went so they might be “saved”, and when they discover all He did, let them submit themselves to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” and reap the benefits of these things for all eternity.
Next time Luke shares how, “Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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