Just Another Wonder About the Christmas Story

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb.

I don’t believe that I have ever listened to the Christmas story and not been stopped, in thought, when that verse -- and verse 44 -- was read.  

This little tiny part of the story never gets addressed in sermons.  As a matter of fact, I have never even heard the question come up. 

It must have been important to Luke; or why else would he slip that point into the story twice? 

The story of Elizabeth’s pregnancy comes at the very beginning of Luke’s Gospel.  

It is the story of when Zechariah was serving his priestly duties in the temple.  It was his turn to enter the sanctuary -- The Holy of Holies -- of the Lord and offer incense.  The angel Gabriel appeared to him.  It says:  “Zechariah was terrified.”  The angel said the same thing to Zechariah that the angel said to Mary.  “Do not be afraid…”  

The angel had come to tell Zechariah that his prayers had been answered; and that his wife Elizabeth would have a son.  His son’s name was to be John.  He would be filled with the Holy Spirit to do great things. 

Unlike Mary,  Zechariah did not believe the angel.  And, because he did not believe, he was rendered unable to speak until John's birth.  After a time Elizabeth did conceive.  

We know the rest of the story!

What we have, in this Christmas story, two responses to the presence of angel activity.  

Zechariah’s was the very logical one to believe in angels.  However he did not believe.  

Mary, was the one who to reacted in, immediate, faith. 

That is interesting to me; because I would think it would be just the opposite. 

Zechariah was a temple priest.  Apparently a man of, at least some level, of faith; or he wouldn’t have been allowed to enter the Holy of Holies.  

Mary was just a young girl.  A teenager.

Don’t you think it is interesting which one believed in a supposed stranger?

A stranger, by the way, who was possibly hovering over the earth.

36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”(Lk. 1:36-45)