THE IMPOSSIBLE

 

There were once two women whose sons were to change the history of the world. One was a young virgin called Mary and the other her cousin, advanced in years and past the bearing age, called Elisabeth. They together proved that with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

 

Elisabeth and her husband Zacharias walked blamelessly before the Lord and even though they prayed many years that Elisabeth would bear a son they arrived at the autumn of their lives childless. It was in the year of his appointed priestly service that Zacharias travelled to the temple in Jerusalem from their village of Hebron to perform sacred rites and ordinances.

 

Just as Zacharias was burning incense inside the temple, the multitude were outside praying for redemption of Israel from the Gentile yoke (Luke 1:10). As the timely prayers ascended, angel Gabriel stood on the right side of the altar of incense and spoke: “Fear not Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard: and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John” (Luke 1:11,13).

 

Six months later the same angel appeared to young Mary advising her she too will bear a son, also of a miraculous birth (Luke 1:30-33). No doubt a young girl like Mary was amazed to receive angel Gabriel's announcement that she shall be the mother of the Son of God. Every woman in Israel hoped for the privilege of becoming the mother of the expected Messiah.

 

Gabriel explained to Mary how the baby would be conceived and no doubt perceiving the alarm that must have arisen within her, he quickly told her about her cousin Elisabeth who also was a recipient of a miraculous conception. What comfort that would have been to such a young girl to know she did not stand alone in the realm of hard to explain miracles. But there was another, her cousin Elisabeth, who had conceived by a miracle so this too was possible.

 

Elizabeth, who languished for years in 'the waiting room' with her husband Zacharias, longing for a child, must have at times wondered what her purpose on earth was for she was being denied the role all women were appointed to before this world began.

 

As years passed and motherhood eluded her, she must have felt worthless and forsaken somehow not knowing the important role she was to play, that of being the mother to the forerunner of the long-awaited Messiah. Elizabeth's role of giving birth to and raising John the Baptist was not her only purpose. Her other purpose was to be proof of God's miraculous power so that people might believe if one miraculous conception was possible, the other was also.

 

One can only imagine how Mary felt when she came to Elisabeth’s side for refuge and validation, to hear the witness born of the Holy Ghost issue from Elizabeth’s lips: “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42). Blessed indeed…..

 

ODE TO MARY AND ELIZABETH

 

Among valiant sons of God

Who were chosen rulers to be

Stood the daughters so fair

They echoed throughout eternity.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Mary and Elisabeth by Mandy Jane Williams)