“For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” Luke 1:44

ONE INTERESTING GENEALOGICAL DETAIL of the Christmas narrative is that Mary (the mother of Jesus, the Messiah) and Elizabeth (the mother of John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah) were relatives, possibly cousins. This is the reason why we read in Luke 1 of a visit by Mary (pregnant with Jesus) to her relative Elizabeth (pregnant with John the Baptist). And as she visited, Luke 1:44 tells us the baby within Elizabeth leapt for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice.

I mention this because this past Sunday was the third Sunday of Advent, when we lit the Joy Candle. And back in Luke 1, Elizabeth interprets the incident of the leaping baby and grants us understanding of true joy.

Elizabeth says to Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” That is, Elizabeth understood that it is the Christ Child still within the womb of Mary who is the bringer of joy. Yes, joy for the baby within Elizabeth, but also the greatest joy imaginable for all those who are trusting in Christ for salvation. Christ came to bring us the joy of salvation here and now, but also the eternal joy of dwelling in His presence forevermore.

 

Pastor Craig publishes  "A Word from God's Word" weekly in the "Kootenay News Advertiser".

Craig Montgomery
  • Pastor

Pastor Craig has served as Senior Pastor of Cranbrook Fellowship Baptist Church since 2018. His passion is for preaching and teaching God's Word, as it is through the proclamation of the gospel that God does His work in people's lives.