I’ll take Psalm 61, “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2b).

My Shepherd laid me down in His green pastures to meditate on His glorious birth. Gabriel’s visit to Zacharias and Mary captured my thoughts.

Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

Luke 1:26 ¶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Luke 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Gabriel is the angel God commissioned to give Daniel the visions of God concerning the end, and their interpretations. He instructed Daniel to record the prophecy that gave us what was needed to discern the time the Messiah the Prince would come into the world (Daniel 9:25). This is the angel God sent to announce His birth (Luke 1:19).

Along the still waters, I thought about how Christ’s (Greek translation of the Hebrew word for Messiah) coming elevated everything that His story touched. His coming elevated womanhood, and especially motherhood.

The opening scenes of the story of Christ’s entrance into the world focused on what the Spirit said through Paul in 1 Timothy 2:11-15: “she shall be saved in childbearing.”

First, Gabriel approached the priest, Zacharias, to announce that Elizabeth, his wife, who was past childbearing (barren), would have a son whose name would be John. This child would come to be called John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1 plus 13x). Once it is recorded that his disciples called him John Baptist (Luke 7:20). God performed a miracle and opened the womb of Elizabeth, showing that “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:36-37).

Elizabeth exalted the LORD, saying, “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, to take away my reproach among men” (Luke 1:25).

Second, Gabriel is sent to Mary, the espoused wife of Joseph, before they came together (Luke 1:27). He announced to her that she was chosen to be the mother of our Lord (Luke 1:28-35).

I notice that the angel came to Elizabeth’s husband to make his birth announcement, but he came first to Mary to announce Christ’s birth. He appeared to Joseph later (Matthew 1:18-20). The angel revealed the name of her child, JESUS (Luke 1:31). He revealed the name of the Baptist, John, to his father (Luke 1:13).

The birth story of Christ begins with two very special women: Elizabeth and Mary. Elisabeth means “God is my oath.” Some say it carries the meaning, “God is my abundance.” But Mary comes from the Hebrew root miri, meaning rebellion, or bitter. It is an homage to Miriam, the sister of Moses (Exodus 15:20-21, and Numbers 12:1-15).

God found in Elisabeth a firm conviction and steadfast devotion through the affliction of barrenness, and blessed her with abundance.

God found in Mary, whose name has roots in bitterness and rebellion, sweet submission, and sincere faith.

He elevated womanhood in the story of His birth and honored motherhood. We will see that JESUS came to elevate mankind, and began with the women.

In the valley, I thought about the sorrow the Spirit spoke to Mary through Simeon: “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35). We are called upon to bear the reproach of the Cross (“Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach” (Hebrews 13:13)). I heard Him say, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed us into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏