We’re continuing our study through the Gospel of Luke. I think it’s interesting that it comes as we’re entering into the holiday season. I didn’t plan it that way, but it worked out great.
Today’s post will deal with Luke 1:39-45. You may want to read that passage before continuing with this article.
Soon after the angel met with her, Mary journeyed to Elizabeth and Zechariah’s house. They were her relatives.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:41
Mary probably felt the need to get away from her village and the questions that would certainly come up about her pregnancy. Elizabeth and Zechariah provided her with a safe place.
When Mary arrived at their home, it’s obvious that God showed up as well.
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?”
Luke 1:42-43
In the spirit, she recognized the mother of Messiah, even though she had no way of knowing it in the natural. But, it was in this moment that she asked a question. “WHY?” We miss this sometimes.
In our fellowship, the “why” is important. That’s a question we rarely ask. Why do we meet together?
We have a few stock answers: Because Jesus told us to. Because that’s what the early church did.
These are true, but not the right answers. There’s an epidemic of believers who stay away from church these days. The pandemic has become an excuse for many to forsake in-person meetings.
I think that in many cases we get the wrong idea of what church meetings are for. “Because we learn the Bible. Because we need ministry. Because we like each other. Because we agree with everything. Because the church meets my needs.” All of these reasons set you up to stay home.
Look at what happened when Mary arrived at the house. This is how Elizabeth described it.
“As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”
Luke 1:44
Why did she say this?
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:41
Think about the excuses we use. Could the Holy Spirit fill Elizabeth without Mary being present? Yes.
Could John have leapt for joy in the womb without Mary? Yes.
Would those things have happened without their meeting? No.
That’s what we have to learn. God does unique things in our fellowship. There’s a special move of God that He reserves only for those times that we are together. That’s probably because there’s a greater focus on what God is doing when we meet in-person.
“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
Luke 1:45
Mary was blessed because she believed. This verse literally says that there will be a performance of what was told her. We have to see that the private and the public work together.
Mary was told something by the angel in private. Now she gets public encouragement. That’s because we’re encouraged in our fellowship.
Zechariah was told something in private. He shared it with his wife. Now she’s in her sixth month of seeing the “performance.” Elizabeth is in the perfect position to encourage Mary to continue trusting God.
We have to learn that the private can never replace the public. Just like the public can never replace the private.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25
God has a work for us to do. We may hear His call to us in private, but we need the public to spur us on. It gives us the boldness we need, to do what God has called us to.
Don’t let the times we live in rob you of the blessings that can only come from our in-person fellowship.
Question: How often do you meet in-person with other believers?
© 2021 Nick Zaccardi
The Spirit and the Word 