Have you thought about friendship lately? It’s one of those important aspects of life that I think about quite a bit, especially during this time of the year. It’s during times of the year like this—times when we feel loneliness just a little bit deeper, times when we feel hurt just a little more severely, times when we feel loss in a very profound way—that we really need true friends. But, what is a true friend? In a survey of more than 40,000 Americans these qualities were most valued in a friend (Psychology Today, quoted in June, 1982 Homemade):
- the ability to keep confidences
- loyalty
- warmth and affection.
A British publication once offered a prize for the best definition of a friend (Bits and Pieces, July, 1991). Among the thousands of answers received were the following:
- ‘One who multiplies joys, divides grief, and whose honesty is inviolable.’
- ‘One who understands our silence.’
- ‘A volume of sympathy bound in cloth.’
- ‘A watch that beats true for all time and never runs down.’
The winning definition reads this way: ‘A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.’ Folks, that was Elizabeth (and I’m speaking here of the cousin of Mary the mother of Jesus, and the mother herself of John the Baptist)! I know that this story begins with Mary’s story continuing from last week … but, I want you to pay particular attention to Mary’s cousin Elizabeth today—how she greets Mary, how she treats Mary, and to her qualities that make her such a good friend at such an important time. Here it is…
39 “Soon afterward Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40 She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and said in a loud voice, "You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me? 44 For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness. 45 How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!"
46 Mary said, "My heart praises the Lord; 47 my soul is glad because of God my Savior, 48 for he has remembered me, his lowly servant! From now on all people will call me happy, 49 because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me. His name is holy; 50 from one generation to another he shows mercy to those who honor him. 51 He has stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans. 52 He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands. 54 He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of his servant Israel. 55 He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all his descendants forever!"
56 Mary stayed about three months with Elizabeth and then went back home.” – Luke 1:39-56 (TEV)
It’s very notable, how Luke places a divine encounter and a very human one side-by-side! Mary had just had the most earth-shaking experience in her young life—nothing to ever surpass it. And, what did she do? Just what you and I would probably do: she ran to tell someone she trusted—someone who she could confide in, one who understood like no other. In her case, it was her cousin, Elizabeth…
Folks, today, I want to take a look at Elizabeth in the Christmas story. I believe we can learn from Elizabeth about being prepared for Christmas—to meet the Christ of Christmas on December 25th this year. I can almost hear Elizabeth’s response as she met Mary: “Tell me all about it, Mary! What happened? Then, what did Gabriel say? And, what did you say?” as only a friend could do…
How much we need other human beings to share the watershed moments of our lives. In the church, we have our sisters & brothers in the faith that we can lean on. And, with God’s help, we can work together to prepare for Jesus’ birthday. Here’s what we can learn from Elizabeth and her character qualities that can help guide us to be ready:
WE NEED TO NOT TURN OUR FOCUS INWARD DURING THIS SEASON. Verses 41-42 again remind us of the memorable greeting: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and said in a loud voice, ‘You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear!’”
Elizabeth was not jealous of Mary! This is very important to see; it didn’t have to be this way… Elizabeth had also had a visit from the angel Gabriel (through Zechariah) and she herself was bearing a miraculous child (in her ‘old age’). But, when she heard the good news, she acknowledged that the child Mary was carrying was even greater, and she rejoiced (no ‘one-upping’ here)!
Are we taking the time to share in the good news of others in the same way during this season? Again, it’s so important NOT to turn our focus inward during this season. It’s not about us, is it? It’s not our birthday…
Do any of you like the comic series Peanuts? You remember, Charlie Brown and friends… On one occasion, Peppermint Patty said to Marcie: ‘I’d like to read this book, Marcie, but I’m kind of afraid. I had a grandfather who didn’t think much of reading.’ She continued by saying, ‘He always said that if you read too many books, your head would fall off.’ Marcie responded, ‘Well, you start the first chapter, and I’ll hold onto your head!’
That’s what friends do for one another! That’s what Elizabeth was doing for Mary, in a manner of speaking. She was holding her head. Though many years older, she was but a few months ahead of her in ‘the kid department’ … but Elizabeth was willing to share what she knew … and hold Mary’s head (or hand) at that time. Are we doing the same for others this season? Whose head do you need to hold?
Elizabeth was not jealous … which was a bit unusual—humanly speaking. She was not going to let her focus turn inward; she knew that what was going on in both her life and in Mary’s life was bigger than the both of their lives put together. It wasn’t about them; it wasn’t about their birthday…
AND, here’s something else by observation: John wasn’t jealous either, as we see here in John’s first prophecy! Did you know this was John’s first prophetic act here in this scripture? V. 41a, once again, says: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her.” The unborn John was acknowledging who Mary was carrying—the Lord Jesus, the very Son of God! So, WE NEED TO NOT TURN OUR FOCUS INWARD EITHER, DURING THIS SEASON; RATHER…
WE NEED TO TURN OUR FOCUS OUTWARD DURING THIS SEASON. Verses 43-45, again, share with us Elizabeth’s response: “Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me? 44 For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness. 45 How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!" Elizabeth was both affirming and encouraging to Mary!
We need to be genuinely interested in and encouraging to others & their experiences during this season. Again, it’s not our birthday, is it? Folks, we have the power to affirm and bless each other just as Elizabeth did for Mary…
Have you ever wondered how some of our great athletes react when they have records broken? I know that some of you are Brett Favre fans … and I know that he’s set many records over the years. But, how do great athletes like Brett react when someone breaks their record? Let me share with you a short story of maybe a somewhat unknown athlete…
Forty thousand fans were on hand in the Oakland stadium when Rickey Henderson tied Lou Brock’s career stolen base record. According to USA Today Lou, who had left baseball in 1979, had followed Henderson’s career and was excited about his success. Realizing that Rickey would set a new record, Brock said, “I’ll be there. Do you think I’m going to miss it now? Rickey did in 12 years what took me 19. He’s amazing.” (Our Daily Bread, June 19, 1994.)
The real success stories in life are with people who can rejoice in the successes of others. What Lou Brock did in cheering on Rickey Henderson should be a way of life in the family of God! It’s exactly what Elizabeth did in her encounter with Mary; she both affirmed what God had told Mary … and encouraged Mary in her process. Yes, Elizabeth was with child, too … and not just any child; but, Mary carried the Son of God … and Elizabeth rejoiced in Mary’s walk with God—in her obedience and success in this area of her life…
As your prepare to celebrate the birthday of our Lord and Savior and King, Jesus … take the time to be a friend to others in their process, too. Take the time to listen to others—enthusiastically … not being jealous of all they want to tell you, but rather affirming and encouraging them in their walk with God!
Let Elizabeth’s character be a lesson to all of us: Elizabeth recognized that Mary was blessed … because of her belief and her obedience to God. Will we be just as happy for others this season, as we see God blessing them in their obedience—in their walk? Here’s how we can help to change this world, folks: Keeping our focus on others … is an important part of being prepared to meet the Christ of Christmas!