The Bloodline of Faith

Edited by Steve Fountain from a sermon on December 2, 2012 called "The Bouncing Blessings of Belief."

This portion of Luke's Gospel transitions us from Galilee to the hill country of Judea.  The recounting of the meeting between Elizabeth and Mary is more than a cute story of two new moms getting together. This very short segment in the birth story is intended to demonstrate the beauty, the blessedness and the joy of simply trusting the promises of God. 

In his e-book, Touching Wonder, John Blasé highlights the contrast that Luke wants us to see in the characters of Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, and Mary.  Both received messages of the coming birth of a child.  Zechariah responds with doubt in a “normal” conception, and Mary responds in a sweetness of faith in a “paranormal” conception — doubt in a conception that was long hoped for, and faith in one not sought for.

In verse 39, we read that that Mary arose and went with haste to see Elizabeth.  In her going south, there are a several benefits. 

First, Mary is protection from unintended criticism of her pregnancy. Second, her being away from her husband in the care of an older family, the miracle of the virgin birth is reinforced. Thirdly, Mary demonstrates the simple faith of a child that obeys in simple faith — she put feet to her faith and traveled south. 

In verse 39-41, Mary arrives and greets Elizabeth. As she does, Elizabeth's baby of six months leaps in her womb.  Little John becomes active, and starts banging around, swimming, dancing in being in the presence of the yet-to-be-born Messiah.

At the end of verse 41 we read that Elizabeth, under the power of the Holy Spirit, blesses Mary.

Elizabeth’s blessing in verses 42-45 demonstrates two marks of someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit: humility and joy.

In verse 43, Elizabeth has no jealousy that Mary might “steal” the show as a younger women being pregnant. Like her son, John the Baptist, she is demonstrating her desire to decrease, and that Mary increase.  This is a true mark of the Spirit-humility— many will claim to have gifts of the Spirit—but watch for this mark, to see if they really do have the Spirit.

In verse 44, Elizabeth tells Mary the reason for her exclamation, and she describes John’s movement as joy — another mark of the Spirit.  Those who are filled with the Spirit have a joy that finds its center in Jesus. 

In verse 42 and 45 we also are given two reasons why Mary is a Blessed. 

Mary is blessed among women, and the child in her womb is blessed as well.  Mary is not blessed because of any merit of her own, but because she is a special vessel, chosen by God’s grace.  It is not that Mary is more blessed than any other woman ever — it is that the child she is bearing is going to be a great deliver.  

Mary is also blessed because she has faith in God’s promise.  She went to see Elizabeth because she believed that God had caused Elizabeth to become pregnant, and she was anticipating it to be the case for her too.  It was a simple faith to take God at his Word, and she was obedient. 

She had said to the angel Gabriel, “Let it be to me according to your word.” And so, Elizabeth, through the Holy Spirit, was letting her know that she would have personal blessing because she believed the words of Gabriel, which were delivered to her from the throne room of God. 

A young girl, demonstrating a simple faith, to take God at His Word, which was something that an older man with great privilege standing at the altar of incense in the great temple, struggled to do.  This story is intended to demonstrate the beauty, the blessedness, and the joy of simply trusting the promises of God.  Yes, there is joy, in the birth of children, but even more in a birth by the Holy Spirit.  When one comes to faith in God, they are reborn, and there is great joy.

You many not have earthly children, but those with whom you share a common faith, a common Spirit, these are your family — these are your great joy. 

The greatest relationships you may ever have may never be through blood ties.  How many children grow up to disappoint, and yet, we find children of faith all around us.  Where is true blessedness found?

Those who follow in the footsteps of faith in the New Covenant blessings of forgiveness by the blood of Jesus Christ will be blessed.  Our greatest blessing comes within the bloodline of Jesus Christ — the bloodline of faith.