I invite you to turn with me to Luke chapter 1, as we read together and consider verses 39 through 45. Again, we know in the first part of this chapter, we are given Luke's record of the birth of John the Baptist foretold. Then in the second portion, as we considered last week, the birth of Jesus foretold to Mary. Now we consider together Mary's visit to Elizabeth. Gabriel had said to Mary, even Elizabeth, your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible with God. Verse 39, hear now the Word of God. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear. But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. There ends the reading of God's holy Word. Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, sometimes when we receive unbelievable, too-good-to-be-true news, we cannot help but to pinch ourselves to make sure that it's not a dream. We're told in Scripture, of course, that the angel appeared to Joseph on another occasion a bit later in a dream. A dream no doubt far unlike any dreams that we have ever had. But when the angel came to Gabriel, she was not dreaming. And it's clear that her professed faith did not fade away with Gabriel's exit. Her faith was real. Along with the amazing announcement, Gabriel gave Mary a sign. Elizabeth, the barren one, was six months pregnant. It almost seems as if Gabriel was giving Mary there some sort of a subliminal message to go and see Elizabeth. And it appears that even before telling Joseph about the angel's visit, Mary wastes no time. She packs her bags for the possible 50-70 mile, a several day trip for her. And she goes to see Elizabeth. Again, really a very simple story. And we're not told exactly why Mary went to see Elizabeth. We might think that she went in order to congratulate Elizabeth, as no doubt she did. Yet, there is no evidence that that is the reason. The focus in this short passage is on Mary and her child. And we can be sure that the sign of a pregnant Elizabeth was not given to Mary in order to convince a doubting Mary of the truth of Gabriel's word because she already believed. As we saw in the previous portion of Scripture last week, and as Elizabeth confirms in this portion here. But indeed, a pregnant Elizabeth was proof to Mary of the truth of Gabriel's word. The visit was not in order to convince Mary. But with it, Mary's honor is confirmed. Her favor, her honor of being called to give birth to the Son of God is confirmed by joy demonstrated in the very presence of the Lord. Now with this short passage, we have a sort of a dual picture going on. On the one hand, we see the beginning of John's witness to Jesus, even as an unborn child. And on the other hand, we see the effect of the good news of Jesus on those who believe. And with this dual picture, Mary's honor is confirmed, first of all, by Elizabeth's unborn child in Mary's presence. Now, we're not told anywhere in Scripture how soon the Holy Spirit would come upon Mary and conceive her child. But I believe that from Elizabeth's words that Mary is the mother of my Lord, that we are to understand that Mary, by this time, was already carrying the Son of God. And therefore, to be in Mary's presence was to be in the presence of the unborn Christ child. Now, it was fitting for Mary to visit Elizabeth. If you think about it, with this wonderful news, how could Mary explain to others the angel's visit and the angel's news? Who would believe something so unbelievable and beyond human understanding that is except for one who experienced something similar? And that was Elizabeth. I believe in a sense, Elizabeth was a gift to Mary. Someone that she could go share her joy with. And Elizabeth, we know, had also received a wonderful miracle. Elizabeth could rejoice with Mary in a way that no other one could do. But Elizabeth's joy, we are to understand, was much more than being happy for Mary because she was expecting a child. Elizabeth's joy was a deep joy that came because of what that child would be for her. Now Mary's visit begins with a greeting to Elizabeth. And we don't know what that greeting was. We don't know what Mary says. Again, it would make sense that Mary told Elizabeth about Gabriel's visit and announcement, and no doubt she did, yet there is no evidence of that in this greeting. Most likely, it was an ordinary greeting, a salutation, wishing Elizabeth well. A greeting that would focus on the greeted, namely Elizabeth, and not on the one doing the greeting. In fact, Elizabeth herself seems to make it clear that her knowledge and her understanding of Mary's blessed situation came not from what Mary said, but from the reaction of Elizabeth's unborn child to Mary's greeting. In verse 41, we are told that the child leaped in her womb. In verse 44, Elizabeth herself says, As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Elizabeth's unborn child leaped for joy. Of course, it's not uncommon, is it, for a six-month-old unborn child to move in its mother's womb and even by this time to be moving somewhat aggressively. Yet, this leaping was not the child's reaction stimulated by the excitement of his mother as seeing her long-lost relative. It wasn't an ordinary movement. It was an extraordinary movement. elizabeth translated translates it as being leaping for joy now we have no way of knowing what that means as far as the unborn child's cognizance and understanding what that child himself was feeling but we do know that it was a fulfillment of verse 16 where gabriel tells zachariah of his son that he will be filled with the holy spirit even from birth the niv says also translated, from his mother's womb. By the power of the Holy Spirit. This unborn child gave a sign to his mother of whose forerunner, of whose preparer he was to be, even as Zechariah was told. Here we see the beginning of John's work as verse 17 says, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And he begins with his own mother. He begins with Elizabeth. What a glorious sign, a glorious illustration that God works through the means of men, even as Paul says, through the foolishness of the message preached to bring a knowledge and the truth of Jesus Christ and by which the Holy Spirit gathers His church. And Elizabeth herself, we're told in verse 41, was filled with the Holy Spirit by which she was able to understand this leaping. By which she was able to understand that she was in the very presence of her Messiah who was still in Mary's womb. Beloved, what a glorious picture of the blessing of the Holy Spirit to those for whom Jesus came. The Holy Spirit is the gift of Jesus Christ to those He came to save. That gift by which they are brought to believe in Him and to embrace His saving work. And what a glorious picture of the unique joy that is found only in the presence of the Savior. A joy of hope. A joy of rescue from sin and its consequences. A joy of reconciliation with God. A joy of sonship with God that has replaced enmity with God. What a wonderful confirmation here to Mary by Elizabeth's unborn child of the truth of her honor and favor with God. That honor and favor is Jesus Himself. And this confirmation was also expressed in the second place by Elizabeth's unquenchable words. She could not contain herself, but she couldn't help but to speak glorious words. Glorious words of inspiration. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth speaks the Word of God as she was illumined by God. In essence, used by God to echo the words of Gabriel. Gabriel has said to Mary, you who are highly favored. And Elizabeth says to her, you who are blessed are you. Confirming that Mary's was indeed the blessed estate that was announced by Gabriel. Confirming the identity of her child. confirming that he would surely accomplish all that the Lord's angel had said of him. Elizabeth also expresses unquenchable words of blessing. Mary is blessed. Blessed among women. Verse 42, In a loud voice she exclaimed, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear. Only to women did God give the blessing and the task of bearing children if He so chooses. But Mary was blessed beyond all women. She was the most blessed. None blessed greater than her. She's blessed in a unique way. Hers was not just an ordinary man to whom she would give birth. But the God-man. The God-man Himself who was the reason that Mary was blessed. Mary was blessed not because of her worthiness or her value or her ability. She was blessed not because she was better than every other woman who had or would ever exist. She was blessed not because she was the most best for this task. Not at all. She was chosen by God. She was blessed because of the fruit of her womb. He was her blessing. In Him, she was blessed to be a blessing. As she would bring forth the One who would be a blessing to the world. To marry too. the one whom she herself would believe and by whom she would be saved. Dear people of God, we too are blessed only in and because of Jesus Christ, apart from whom there is only the eternal curse because of sin. Blessing, true blessing, is only in Jesus Christ. And as those who believe, we are blessed to be a blessing, to carry that good news confidently, without fear, to those who have never heard. And Elizabeth expresses that Mary is blessed because she believed. Verse 45, Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. True happiness consists in believing the Word of God. Mary, by the grace of God, embraced in her heart the promises of God. Proof that she came to Elizabeth not with a skeptical, doubtful attitude, but to confirm with joy what had been announced to her. Elizabeth also speaks unquenchable words of humility. Verse 43, But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Elizabeth herself was the wife of a priest. She had a certain religious status among the people as well. She was older and wiser than Mary. She might be the logical choice for this task. What a miracle that would be! Not only was she old and past childbearing age, but to bear the Messiah. That's not how Elizabeth saw it. She was not envious of Mary's favor, but she was humbled that Mary came to her. She was humbled not because of Mary herself, but she was humbled to be in the presence of her Lord of whom she knew she was not worthy. And she rejoiced to witness the Word and the work of the Lord through His chosen vessel. As she gives glory to God, not to Mary, as she adores Christ the Lord. Beloved, may we too rejoice to witness the Word and the work of the Lord however He chooses to accomplish it, whether it be through us or not through us. Our rejoicing ought to be to witness the work of the Lord however He chooses to accomplish it. She also expresses unquenchable words of understanding, proof of her faith. She describes Mary as the mother of my Lord, she says. Illumined by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth understood that Mary carried the long-awaited, the long-anticipated Messiah in her womb, and she understood that His identity was God Himself come in the flesh. Really, the first record of anyone confessing both the deity and the humanity of Christ, the very One that we need to save us from our sins. Later on, John the Apostle himself would give confession to this as he would say, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And Paul as well would confess the deity and humanity of Christ as he said, God sent His Son born of a woman. And Elizabeth claimed Mary's unborn child, this very One, as her Lord, as her Savior. Dear people of God, if this was Elizabeth's description of the baby while still in Mary's womb, to call Him my Lord, how much more should we glorify the Christ who has died for us, who has risen again, who lives forevermore to intercede for us. And finally, Elizabeth also expresses unquenchably words of assurance. Verse 45, Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. Now, in this verse, the word that is translated here in our NIV versions as that can also be translated for or because. And in that way, the verse reads in some translations, Blessed is she who has believed, for or because what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. And in that way, it can refer to the reason why Mary is blessed. Because what she believed will certainly come true. What a blessing that is. Or it can mean, as the NIV says, to give the content of what she believed. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. The Bible versions and the commentators are split on this. Yet either way, I believe that the other understanding, they're not far off, and the other understanding is included in each one. Either way, Elizabeth prophesies of the certainty that all that Gabriel said to Mary of this child will come to pass. That God is going to fulfill it. A beautiful word of confirmation. she will call him jesus he will be great and will be called the son of the most high the lord god will give him the throne of his father david and he will reign over the house of jacob forever his kingdom will never end a glorious prophecy from the mouth of elizabeth of who this child would be and what he would accomplish later on when mary and joseph presented him at eight days old into the temple in luke chapter 2 we find there that simeon gives a a a similar confession calling this child salvation and the prophetess anna says that he is the redemption that the people for whom the people have been waiting beloved mary's favor the truth and the certainty of her child was confirmed not only did God speak through His heavenly messenger Gabriel but He saw fit to reveal it to man through Elizabeth and her unborn child and confirmed to Mary this truth through the joy and the gladness and testimony of Elizabeth the Lord's table instituted by Jesus Himself is proof to us that what the Lord said to Mary has been accomplished. This table is a visible confirmation to us of the finished work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. The Lord's table points to the joy of salvation that Jesus Christ alone brings. It points to the joy of the Lord given to those who believe by grace through faith. Even as Elizabeth is an illustration for us. True faith comes with confidence in the certainty of the object of faith. That object is Jesus Christ and the work that He came to do and indeed has done. And beloved, the joy that is given to us through faith, the joy of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that we belong to Him the joy of knowing that all of our sins are forgiven and that we have been made forever right with God and that we have been given everlasting salvation the joy of all of that through faith is a confirmation to you and me of our Lord's gift of the Holy Spirit who applies the saving work of Jesus to our hearts apart from the work of the Holy Spirit that joy is not ours beloved as we examine ourselves in preparation for coming to the Lord's table the Lord willing next week especially as we examine once again our sin and misery we do so we are called to do so in the light of the Lord's table and the salvation of which it is a picture and that is a confirmation beloved that the call to repent of one's sins and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is not given in vain It does not come with just an uncertain hope, like, boys and girls, maybe your Christmas gift list. Maybe you've made a list. You have a lot of things written down on it, but you have no certainty that you will receive even one of those gifts on your list. That does not describe what we are talking about. The call to repent of one's sins and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is not a call that is given in vain. It does not come with an uncertain hope, but it is certain because in Jesus Christ, for those who believe, all of our sins are forgiven and all hope is ours. Beloved, these really, truly belong to those who have faith in Jesus Christ. To those who trust in Him and His finished work alone to make us right with God. They, we are not dreaming. We don't have to pinch ourselves. because the benefits of Jesus Christ are just as real as this table which you see. They are just as real as this pulpit, as this building, just as real and certain as you and I here today looking at one another. Oh, Elizabeth could not contain and quench her joy. And that is true for those who understand the desperate condition in the pit of hell from which we have been delivered. And the eternal joy that is our new possession. How we love to tell good news, don't we? For there is none greater than of the Savior who is Christ the Lord. Amen. Let's pray together. our great God and Heavenly Father indeed we thank you for your word your word become flesh Jesus Christ your written word that testifies of him and we thank you oh Lord that you do not just tell us truths once in your word but over and over again to confirm to make us know for certain the truth of Your Word. We thank You, Father, for the gift of faith to believe. We praise You for the joy that belongs to Your people because of Jesus Christ and Him alone. A joy so full, so rich. A joy so free. Father, draw us ever nearer to Yourself and that glorious joy that faith, hope, and love. We ask, O Lord, that You would hear our prayer for Jesus' sake. And in His name we pray. Amen.