The First to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

By Van Yandell
Luke 1:41-42 “It happened, when Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
It seems very likely, the reason so many doubt the Holy Bible, is because the miracles listed in it, are beyond human comprehension.
The accuracy of the prophesy is also self-explaining. We are seeing the events and conditions in our world that only God could have known 2000 years ago (Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21).
For anyone not accepting by faith, the existence of a supernatural reality, that doubt is understandable. The miracles are not explainable within human/physical world limitations.
When we read of elderly women becoming pregnant and we know their bodies have changed throughout the years, we raise our eyebrows.
The stories of Sarah and Rachael are examples. The story of Elisabeth (Luke 1) is another. Luke 1:7 “And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.”
“Well stricken in years” indicates human bodies are worn out or at least are wearing out and the possibility of conception and child birth is mostly non-existent. Only by a supernatural manifestation could Elisabeth have become pregnant.
Elisabeth’s husband was Zacharias, a Levite priest. The Levite priests were responsible for the caring of the Holy of Holies in the Temple of God in Jerusalem. This was the place where The Ark of the Covenant (ark/box in which the tablets on which God etched the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20 and 25), was kept.
When Zacharias was burning incense, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and announced the birth of their child who was to become John the Baptist.
Zacharias expressed doubt at this miracle and for that reason was rendered mute by God until the birth of the baby.
This conception would in no way compare to the impregnating of Mary by the Holy Spirit, but would certainly be considered a miracle. John was to become a key character in the announcing of Jesus as the Messiah, 30 years later.
Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
This statement made by John proclaimed to all those present and now, all of us, this Savior Jesus and His purpose here on earth.
By John stating that HE would “baptize with the Holy Ghost,” became one of the first (New Testament scriptures) to inform humanity that we are spiritual beings (1 Corinthians 6:19, Acts 19:2-6).
“The babe leaped in her (Elisabeth’s) womb” may have been a natural reaction but in fact, the Bible indicates this was not at all the case. This was a supernatural reaction by the fetus inside Elisabeth. These were two very unique pregnancies.
By Elisabeth’s apparent joy to Mary’s news, that celebration by Elisabeth, would have happened at the same time her baby leaped in her. “Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.”
Elisabeth had realized her blessing even before Mary came to visit. In verse 25, she stated “The Lord had taken away her reproach.” She had considered herself cursed or at least, not God blessed in that she had not previously had a child.
Verse 24 tells us after she conceived she went away for five months. Obviously that action was not to conceal her pregnancy because it likely would not have been noticed. Her reason was to spend time with the Lord.
This reminds us of Hannah’s prayer to dedicate her son’s life (the prophet Samuel) to the Lord if God would allow her to conceive (1 Samuel 1:11). Hannah prayed for a son and promised him to the Lord’s service.
Mary had been told by the messenger angel, Gabriel, she would conceive by the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:28-31). We are told Mary was troubled by this salutation.
Mary was probably around sixteen years old at the time, or younger. The idea of becoming pregnant would have been mind-boggling for her but to receive the news in such a way was beyond the ability of a young girl to contemplate.
For Mary to visit Elisabeth was as much for Mary’s comfort and an effort to help her understand her predicament, as it was to simply tell her cousin. Elisabeth succeeded in comforting Mary. Luke 1:42b-43 “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
What a beautiful story this is! The celebration of the coming birth of the Savior of the world is to be remembered until Jesus returns to take up His church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
Whereas Elisabeth’s fetus celebrated by leaping in her womb, we celebrate Christmas in many ways. There are many symbolisms in the Christmas observance of our savior’s birth.
The lights represent that Jesus is the light of the world (John 1:9). The green Christmas tree represents the new life He gives to us (Ephesians 4:23-24). Only through Him can we be born again (John 3).
The gifts given on Christmas represent the greatest gift ever given to mankind. Eternal salvation is only by a faith based belief that Christ Jesus was crucified for the remission of sin and resurrected.
Celebrate Christmas this year with a renewed heart and a knowledge and belief that Jesus is the reason for the celebration.
Many prefer to say “Happy Holidays” but if there was no Jesus, there would be no holiday.
Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary, from Fredonia, Kentucky. This column is part of the Bible Connection series.