The Way to Bethlehem
First, a trip of a hundred miles to Ein Karem
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:26-28
Chosen and blessed by God? Surely this young woman, Mary, could not have imagined not only why an angel was visiting her, but why she was greeted in such a way! Although the Biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth do not tell us how old Mary was when Gabriel gave her startling news, the Jewish practice of the time was for young women to be betrothed when they were between 12 and 16 years old. Mary was likely a young teenager when the angel came to her.
And the angel Gabriel? According to the Scriptures, only Daniel in Babylon had been visited by this messenger. And the angel’s next words surely alarmed the young woman.
“Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor [a] with God.
31 You will become pregnant, give birth to a son,
and name him Jesus.
32 He will be a great man
and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his ancestor David.
33 Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever,
and his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:26-28
And as if this news isn’t enough for Mary to comprehend, Gabriel’s next announcement would have shocked her:
36 “Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age. People said she couldn’t have a child. 37 But nothing is impossible for God.” Luke 1:36-37
After hearing this news, Luke goes on to say that Mary “went in haste” to visit her cousin. The surprise here is that at the time Elisabeth and Zachariah were living in Ein Karem, about a hundred miles from Nazareth! Why did the young Mary take such a difficult journey—mostly uphill— after learning of two surprise pregnancies?
Mary, favored by God, did not doubt the angel, but she may have wanted the support of her cousins before breaking the news of her own pregnancy to her family. The “leaping of the child in Elisabeth’s womb” when Mary arrived only confirmed what May already knew: God had chosen her to be the Mother to His Son.
Some pregnancies are planned while some are a surprise! How do you think Mary felt when she heard the news from Gabriel?
Hi, Readers, I’d like to ask a quick favor. If you’ve enjoyed this post, maybe even learned something from it, would you consider sharing it on your own social media or email or even restacking it here on Substack? I’d appreciate it as I try to spread the realities of adult autism and widowhood!