What does it mean to live with questions?

Sometimes questions come as a grace-filled surprise, as a joy, don’t they?

In this year’s advent series, join me as we look at four Advent questions from the gospel of Luke. We’ll look at the question in its context of their ancient day, and how that question might relate to us in our times.

This week’s question:

And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

(Luke 1:43, ESV)

In our past two weeks, we have seen the angel Gabriel visit Zechariah and Mary separately, announcing to each that they would have a son. Zechariah and Elizabeth were old and had given up hope for a child, and Mary was an unwed virgin, not expecting to have a child yet. But God works in mysterious ways, and both women found themselves in unfamiliar territory.

In verses 24-25 of Luke chapter 1, we see Elizabeth go into hiding for five months, amazed and marveling at what God was doing in her life, giving her this long-hoped-for child. And one day, out of the blue, there is a knock at the door, and her young relative Mary shows up and calls Elizabeth’s name.

When a dear friend appears unannounced on your doorstep, what is your first reaction? 
Maybe a smile, a hug, or even a few tears of happiness to see your loved one face-to-face?

When Mary appears at Elizbeth’s home, what happens next is pure God-filled, Holy Spirit-inspired joy!

⁴¹ And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴² and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

(Luke 1:41-45, ESV)

For both women, their meeting was validation of God’s work in each of their lives.

For Elizabeth, Mary’s visit was confirmation of her years and years of waiting and praying for a child, having given up hope long ago, living with the cultural shame of not bearing a child.

For Mary, her visit to Elizabeth was confirmation of her sacrifice to the Lord that had just begun, and was still unfolding and yet to come.

For both women, in their pregnancies, it was a time of waiting, watching, and wondering, “what is God up to?” during their three months together.

When you are required to wait, how would you describe your response? Anxious? Impatient? Willing?

And what is your response when an answer comes that is so completely over-the-top that you are surprised and delighted? Or when the answer is so outrageous and counter-cultural to our society’s norms and expectations that it’s a shock to you and everyone around you?

God often surprises us with His ways, and does so with joy. 

As we count down the days before Christmas, may we find joy in the preparation and waiting, and marvel in what God has done and is doing, just as Elizabeth and Mary did.

Blessings,
~kevin