Luke 1:41-42 (ESV)
[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!
Elizabeth was filled with the
Holy Spirit. Mary was called blessed here and again in verse 45. Many have accused
the Bible and Christianity of being misogynistic. That could not be farther
from the truth. In a world that subjugated women, the Bible repeatedly exalts
women. Eve was formed from Adam’s rib, not his leg or his foot. She was a
helper perfectly suited to him, not a domestic to serve him. Time and space
limits my ability to tell the stories throughout the Scriptures that exalt
women, but think of Sarah, Miriam. Rahab, Deborah, Ruth, Abigail, Bathsheba,
and the woman of the Song of Solomon for starters. Three women’s names made it
into the lineage of David listed in Matthew. That was not culturally appropriate,
yet they are listed. Many women followed Jesus, and they were the first to testify
to his resurrection in a world where a woman was not allowed to testify in court.
Junia along with Andronicus is listed as a fellow prisoner of Paul and well known
to the apostles in Romans 16. Some versions read “well known among the apostles,”
suggesting that she was considered in some way an apostle.
The point is that in the record
of the birth of our Savior women are highly exalted. Not only is the child
Elizabeth is carrying filled with the Holy Spirit, but Elizabeth herself is
filled with the Holy Spirit. Not only is Mary’s child blessed, but Mary herself
is blessed. The Scriptures exalt women in ways that their culture never would
have.
In Greek and Roman mythology
women were either horrid and evil or they were sexy and seductive. In the IslĪ±mic
world women are a source of seduction, therefore they must be covered. In the
Bible they are honored and respected. Somehow, somewhere the world’s
perspective of women has slipped into the church, but it is not biblical. Women
are not here to serve men. In fact, Men are called to die for their wives just
as Christ died for the church. Yes, I know, every man says they would take a
bullet for their wife. But would they die to their own desires in order to
serve their wife? Would they die to their own will for the sake of their wife?
Had this story been a concoction of
the church to support their theology, they would never have exalted women in
the way these verses do. This is the heart of God as he introduces his Son to
the world. Verse 45 says, “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a
fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Through Elizabeth God
spoke words of blessing on Mary. This Christmas season may we not only remember
how God blessed Mary, but may we speak blessing to those women who are a part
of our lives as well.
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