Devotion:
Read Luke 1:39-49.
The question, “How did this story get to the ears of this Gospel’s writer?” came as I was reading these verses. The gospel writer gives us a clue in Luke 2:51b, “And Mary pondered all these things in her heart.” As I read these verses, I can hear Mary telling with great enthusiasm this story of her visit with her cousin, Elizabeth!
Interestingly, the Greek word for joy in verse 44 is “agalliasei”, which is more closely translated “exultation”, and is utilized only two other times in the New Testament; in Acts 2:46 and Jude 1:24. All three of these verses celebrate exceeding joy or exultation because of God’s great work unto the people!
Mary’s song of exultation rejoices in God’s promise through the generations to send a Savior for the people! Her son will be the promised one, the Messiah who will be merciful and will fill the hungry with good things!
The Holy Spirit, through the angel’s words, led Mary to know that her cousin Elizabeth was expecting. And the Holy Spirit led Elizabeth to know and confirm Mary’s news before Mary could tell her story! Elizabeth knew by the “leap of exultation” within her womb that Mary was expecting God’s own Son, the Savior for the world. The Message translates this, “The babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.”
For us in this “information age”, it’s difficult to comprehend Mary’s and Elizabeth’s sense of knowing and celebrating what God was doing!!! Mary’s and Elizabeth’s quiet trust in God helped them to see with eyes of faith God’s work in their midst. The source of their joy wasn’t material possessions; it was the angel’s message that “God's promise is being fulfilled and nothing is impossible with God!”
Personal Worship Option:
There’s a little book on my shelf titled, “Lena”, by Margaret Jensen. Lena is the housekeeper of a small Methodist college’s infirmary. Lena shares her wisdom with the resident nurse, the author, who had lost her joy. Lena says, “Your joy has nothing to do with what you want. Your joy is Jesus! You got Him, you got peace! You got Him, you got it all! The things you are worried about are none of your business, they are God’s business. Thank God for everything! Don’t see the problem---just see Jesus! Jesus is your joy!”---Jesus, you are our joy!!! Amen.
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