It's the Big One Elizabeth!

[The Angel said to Mary] And now your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. Luke 1:36

Red Foxx, the comedian, had a sitcom a long while back called "Sanford and Son." It was about the life of a widowed junk dealer, Fred, and his son Lamont. Fred was old and crotchety, and used to getting his own way. So much so, that when he was rebuffed, he would fake a heart attack. How you knew he was doing that was he would speak out loud to his late wife, "I'm coming Elizabeth--It's the big one Elizabeth!" And hilarity ensued!

Elizabeth in the bible is Mary's relative, whose husband is not a junk dealer, but a priest. An angel visits him with the news of John the Baptist's impending arrival, via Elizabeth. When he relays this information to his wife, who like him was very old--perhaps she almost had a heart attack! It's the big one Elizabeth! You're going to be a mommy!

And not only that--but she is restored as well. In that day, it reflected badly upon a woman if she could not conceive (even though it was just as likely to be the man's problem). So Elizabeth withstood murmurs and pointing fingers and shame for most of her life. And in a second that's reversed!

But not because she is now "fertile." Rather because God chose her even in her barren-ness to bear the precursor to Christ--John. God saw her not as deficient and old, but as a collaborator in the plan for salvation!


Childlessness or the blessing of children is not at issue here. What Elizabeth models for us is a human being--plain and simple and imperfect like the rest of us. And God chose her. As God chooses you and I, despite our barren-ness. Chooses us to help prepare the way for the Lord Jesus. Who is very near.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Pastor Tom