In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
Luke 1:39-40
Luke just finished sharing the stories of the visitations of Gabriel to Zechariah and Mary. Now, in Luke 1:39-40, we see their stories converge. The placement of their stories next to each other, coupled with the importance of their convergence and upcoming interaction, lend themselves to a compare-contrast.
Elizabeth and Zechariah*
Zechariah and Elizabeth have proper credentials
Gabriel appears to them in the temple in Jerusalem, which served as the center of Jewish religion, culture, and economics
Zechariah enjoys the prestigious status of a priest
They are well connected and financially secure
Zechariah and Elizabeth are likened to noble Abraham and Sarah
Zechariah doubts and responds from a natural, human perspective: he and Elizabeth are too old for children
Mary*
Mary has no credentials
Gabriel visits Mary in rustic, little-known Nazareth
Mary is unmarried, and to be unmarried or widowed in Israel was seen at that time as less-desirable than being married.
Mary is neither connected nor financially secure.
Mary is likened to the outcast and vulnerable Hagar (Genesis 16:11).
Mary responds from a supernatural, heavenly perspective: she hears the heavenly promise and asks, “How can it be?” rather than in doubt.
So why do I share this?
Have you ever wondered if you qualify for the things that God is calling you to? Have you ever wondered if your background, family of origin, place you live, economic status, or marital status disqualify you from God’s plans?
The differentiated stories of Mary and Elizabeth and Zechariah tell us that God, by His amazing grace, includes each of us into His story of redemption no matter our “status” or context.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to know that He chose you; thus, you need not earn to qualify. Perhaps today God wants you to see your story and your life as a conduit for His story as opposed to a disqualifier from His work. Maybe today God wants you to look at your own life through filter of the grace of God toward all of us: we have the amazing opportunity to partner with Him. Perhaps today God wants you to stop comparing-contrasting your life to others.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Edwards, J. R. (2015). The Gospel according to Luke (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 50–51). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.