“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. 

 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” 

Luke 1:38-45 

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December 24, 2025 

Reeling from bombshell news, Mary got ready and hurried to visit Elizabeth.  

This journey was probably around 100 miles, and Mary didn’t have a car. It would have been a long and difficult trip—especially while pregnant. But she went.  

Now, if this story hasn’t been incredible up until now, when Elizabeth sees Mary, she already knows. Can you imagine?! She already knows. As soon as Mary waves and yells hello, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumps for joy. Elizabeth shouts, Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy! 

What a relief this greeting was for Mary, what a burden taken from her shoulders! What a gift, what a light in her darkness. Both Elizabeth and her unborn baby know. They believe her.  

God called Mary to a vast and daunting task, and He equipped her for it. Even before God gave Mary the ministry of bringing the Light into the world, He provided someone to walk beside her, an older sister who would see her and understand. No wonder Mary got ready and hurried to meet Elizabeth! As they waited in the darkness for God’s light to come, and as they prepared for that first Christmas, they had each other.  

As soon as Elizabeth shouts her greeting, God’s light fills Mary and she bursts into song! It’s a long and wonderful song full of God’s gospel truth, the prophetic interpretive key the disciples and apostles—and we today—will use to understand what all this has been about: 

Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. 

     How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 

 For he took notice of me, 

 The Mighty One is holy, 

    and he has done great things for me. 

 He shows mercy from generation to generation 

    And He has remembered to be merciful. 

God has remembered to be merciful.  

Questions for reflection and discussion:  

  • Where do you see God’s mercy in this story? 
  • How does God call Mary? How does He equip her? 
  • How is God calling you to carry His light into the darkness today? 

Church Reading Plan: 2 Chronicles 29; Revelation 15