December 14
Joy in the Promise
Luke 1:39–45
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Babies bring joy. It’s hard to see a child and not smile or talk to them in a funny voice – hoping to see a smile emerge on their face. But there was one child that would bring joy unlike any other. In fact, the unborn John, would respond to the presence of Jesus in the same manner he would respond as an adult – with reverence and revelry. Many years later he would baptize Jesus in the Jordan River, preach prophetically of “the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” and speak the humble, one-line sermon, “He must increase and I must decrease.” John found joy in Jesus and it was present the first time they met. John leapt in Elizabeth’s womb at the sound of Mary’s voice. Even the unborn rejoice at the presence of Jesus.