Elizabeth

Elizabeth

Luke 1:24-25, 39-45, 57-58

            We read much more about Zechariah than Elizabeth in the first chapter of Luke.  Perhaps what makes him a more interesting subject is that he doubted God’s promise while Elizabeth, like Mary, accepted it. 

            You may remember his part of the story.  As a priest, it was his duty to serve before God at certain times of the year.  While he was serving in the temple, with the people standing outside, an angel appeared and told him that his wife, who was barren, would give birth to a son. 

            It’s interesting that Mary and Joseph believed the angels who told them Mary’s pregnancy was God-ordained, but when Zechariah, a member of the priestly class, was told his wife would give birth, he refused to believe.  Mary and Joseph, two commoners, accepted the greater miracle of the Messiah’s birth.  Zechariah, a man whose life was committed to the service of God—a man who Luke tells us was righteous before God—couldn’t accept the message the angel brought him. 

He had proof that God could ordain miraculous births.  Isaac, Samson, and Samuel all bore witness to God’s ability to bring about such births, but he didn’t have the faith to believe.

So the angel struck him dumb.  Zechariah would not be able to speak until the promised son was born.  He couldn’t even explain to the people outside what had happened.  This should serve as a cautionary tale for us:  Never question God’s ability to do whatever God wants to do.

The story has a happy ending.  When the boy is born, the family wants to name him after his father.  Elizabeth says his name is to be John.  When the people question her decision, they turn to Zechariah, who writes, “His name is John.”  Immediately Zechariah’s mouth is opened and he begins praising God.  Another cautionary tale:  When God gives you a blessing, give praise loud and long. 

All we really know about Elizabeth is that she was righteous—as was her husband, that she did indeed become pregnant and give birth to a son, and that she welcomed Mary into her home.  This last is most important.  We can’t know for certain why Mary traveled so far to be with her cousin.  It’s possible her family wanted to get her out of town to avoid embarrassment.  It’s also possible she chose to leave Nazareth to get away from her family.  Whatever the reason, Elizabeth offered her hospitality, support, and the assurance that their sons had been given to them by God.  What more could Mary have asked for?

We might assume that since her husband couldn’t communicate his experience with God’s messenger, Elizabeth might have received an announcement of her own.  When she was confronted with those who wanted to name the child Zechariah, she said, “He shall be called John.”  Somehow she knew what his name should be.

Miracle upon miracle!  Six months before Gabriel’s announcement to Mary we have an angel delivering good news to a barren couple.  Like Abraham and Sarah so many years before, in spite of their advanced age Elizabeth and Zechariah were to be parents.  And what a child!  Before he was conceived he was already set apart for God’s work.  He would be filled with God’s Spirit from the beginning.

Elizabeth, like her cousin Mary, accepted God’s blessing.  She might have had an inkling that things wouldn’t end well.  Radicals seldom escape severe punishment.  John’s preaching did cost him his life.  But she knew that God had called her to this work, and she had the faith to see it through.