Elisabeth, Mother of John the Baptist
Many times in the Bible God chooses to accomplish His will beginning with a special birth. The birth of a child is a both a blessing upon the mother and father, and a special bond between the child and God. One of those stories is that of Zacharias, Elisabeth and John, who will come to be known as John the Baptist.
Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
Elisabeth was a descendant of Aaron, and was also a cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Although Elisabeth would become pregnant six months before her cousin Mary, the birth of her child was vital to the life of Mary’s child. After Mary is visited by the Angel of God and told she will bear God’s Son, the Angel also tells her of Elisabeth’s pregnancy. Mary goes to visit her, and Elisabeth knows right away of the special child Mary carries.
Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
In that brief passage telling of Elisabeth’s words to Mary lie the foundation of the ministry of Jesus. Elisabeth’s child would be born to herald the coming of the Lord, and Elisabeth herself, with John still in her womb, begins his important work.
1. John lept in her womb at the sound of Mary’s voice. He knew from the very beginning of his life, as the Lord said he would, the true parentage and purpose of Jesus. That parentage and purpose would be the whole of John’s ministry.
2. Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, even though her husband was a priest. Jesus was coming for all people, men and women alike.
3. Elisabeth announced even before John the Baptist that Mary and her child were blessed by God.
4. Elisabeth did not feel she was special, and yet the Lord visited her through his mother Mary. Just as the Lord visits all who open the door for Him, no matter who they are.
5. “There shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Elisabeth knew from the beginning that Mary’s child, Jesus, would perform miracles.
Mary stayed with Elisabeth for three months, returning to her home just before John’s birth. The two cousins, John and Jesus, would not meet until Jesus visits John for His Baptism. Through Elisabeth, the first glimpses are given of the special child Mary carries. Elisabeth in her own way was a prophet of Jesus, and gave birth to His greatest prophet who lay down his own life for Him. John the Baptist would be imprisoned and executed before the end of Jesus’ ministry.
No mention is made again of Elisabeth after she names her son on his eighth day, according to the Jewish tradition, when he is circumcised. We do not know if she was still alive when John was killed, or if she got to see any of her foretellings come to pass. But Elisabeth believed the things told her through the Holy Ghost. As long as we believe the Lord and allow Him to use us for His work, what need have we to see the end? She passed on her work to her son as the Lord required. Like Elisabeth, we may not always see the end of our works. But if we begin them as God bade us, the end is certain whether we see it or not.
Image Source: Saint Takla Church
If you missed the first in this series, see Parenting Lessons from Mary.
christian, christian women, women of the Bible, Elisabeth, John the Baptist, Holy Ghost
February 21st, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Excellent post. Your writing speaks to me as truth from the Lord.
The new banner is super! We should all lift our hands and praise Him.
May 26th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Many times in the Bible God chooses to accomplish His will beginning with a special birth. The birth of a child is a both a blessing upon the mother and father, and a special bond between the child and God. One of those stories is that of Zacharias, Elisabeth and John, who will come to be known as John the Baptist.