“Hospitality”
Now at this time Mary set out and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” Luke 1:39-45
After Mary became pregnant with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, she needed a safe place to stay. As a young, unwed, pregnant woman, she was extremely vulnerable. She could have been verbally abused, ostracized from her community, and even stoned to death. So, she went to stay at the home of her elderly cousin Elizabeth.
God had performed a miracle in the life of Elizabeth and her elderly husband Zechariah, enabling them to become pregnant with John the Baptist. She of all people, would understand the feelings and concerns of Mary. Elizabeth was also a relative who had known Mary throughout her short life and who loved her dearly. So, it’s understandable that Mary would see Elizabeth as a safe person who would offer her hospitality during this challenging and yet amazing time in her life.
There are people in all our lives who need a safe place to go. We are all in a unique position to offer hospitality to someone who is going through a challenging and yet amazing time in life.
This person could be a relative. Or a friend. Or a co-worker. Or even a stranger. Hebrews 13:2 reminds us:
Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
I thank God for the hospitality that Elizabeth gave Mary. And I thank God for the opportunities to show hospitality that He is giving each of us.
In Christ,
Pastor David
