About the time we have eaten the last Thanksgiving leftovers, grim TV reporters tell us, “It looks like a bad Christmas this year.” We know what they mean. On a worldly level it is understandable why this is news. Many companies rely on a year-end consumer spending frenzy to help them stay afloat financially. But how can the celebration of the birth of Christ, the Savior, ever be bad?

Good News!
Our lesson text amplifies this point. Months before Jesus’ birth, Mary was told by Gabriel that she, a virgin, would conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God, Jesus. Mary was also told by Gabriel that a relative (the word is not specific; thus, no one can tell whether this was a cousin, aunt, or more distant relative) of hers named Elizabeth had also conceived a son “in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month” (Luke 1:36*).

Upon hearing this, Mary “arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth” (Luke 1:39, 40). Though the specific town is not named, some suggest it was Hebron since it was the main town of that region and many priests lived there.

Why was Mary in such a hurry? She was fervent to confirm her experience by comparing what Gabriel had told her with what Elizabeth was experiencing. Mary also wanted to get counsel and encouragement from an older woman, a woman who was also having her first child.

Happy Greeting!
Mary entered the house, and Elizabeth heard her greeting. Elizabeth “cried out with a loud voice”  (Luke 1:42). You know how it is when a family member or close friend, someone you aren’t expecting and who you haven’t seen for some time, greets you. Thus, Elizabeth embraced young Mary and shrieked with joy.

But her greeting was more than loud, it was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” The baby Elizabeth was carrying “leaped in her womb.” Even before his birth, John the baptizer rejoiced in Christ the Lord, just as he would during his earthly ministry.

Look at what Elizabeth said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42). It is significant to note that Elizabeth did not say Mary was blessed above women but that she was blessed among women. The lesson here is that we must not ascribe to Mary that which belongs only to God. Mary needed Jesus as her Savior just as any other human. Conversely, we must not minimize the role given to Mary by God in his redemptive plan!

Elizabeth continues in her “song” by asking, “How has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? . . . And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord” (Luke 1:43, 45). Here Elizabeth emphasized the trust and faith of Mary. Scripture elsewhere makes clear that all of us are saved by grace, through faith, at immersion into Christ, for the purpose of good works (Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 2:10-12; Titus 3:4-7 etc.).

Jesus Saves!
Elizabeth’s utterance was a precursor to God’s redemptive plan that would be accomplished by the death, burial, and resurrection of his Son. Because Mary believed and trusted God’s Word, she lived the power of God through her life. Elizabeth beautifully identified and explained this in her “song of love.”

This brings us to the purpose of this text and our lesson. In Elizabeth’s “song of love,” envy never once raised its head, even though Elizabeth was much older than Mary. This aged woman was deeply aware of her own unworthiness, and genuinely rejoiced in the joy and faith of her much younger relative.

Let’s Celebrate!
How can the absence of a begrudging attitude be explained? As William Hendriksen says in his commentary, “The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4: Love does not envy.” Elizabeth was intent upon honoring Christ the Lord because her love for him and his people was exemplary. Such is the point of this text. Envy and jealousy are unbecoming to those who claim and wear the name Christ. Honor, glory, and praise given to Christ alone is becoming of those who wear his name!

Look at the joyous excitement Elizabeth displayed upon hearing of the coming birth of Christ the Lord. Here’s how we can demonstrate the same joyous excitement for the birth of our Lord: refocus our attention on the event we celebrate rather than on the celebration of the event! Let us emulate the purpose of this text—Elizabeth honors the Messiah!

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* All Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible.