Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, Supernatural Pregnancies

by David Chadwick

Mary and Elizabeth. Two women called by God, both of whom were carrying children with tremendous purpose.

Jesus, the perfect God-man, was conceived in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. The angel Gabriel delivered the news to her. In addition to this news of her supernatural pregnancy, Mary was also informed of her cousin Elizabeth’s miraculous conception in her later years. If we think family news spreads fast, imagine how quickly this news must have spread from family to family and from village to village.

The fulfillment of biblical prophecy was happening before people’s very eyes. I can only imagine the relief, the excitement, and the wonder that filled the hearts of all who heard.

Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea. We don’t know exactly where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived, but one could suspect that it was relatively near Jerusalem because Zechariah had regular rounds of service in the temple.

Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John was 6 months ahead of Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus. I am sure that both of them could not wait to share their stories with one another. Especially with the angel Gabriel being at the center of both narratives! Let’s not forget the significance of Gabriel. He is the mighty angel who was always delivering news about the Messiah. He did so in the book of Daniel hundreds of years earlier and now was also the one to bring the news of Jesus’s birth.

Mary entered Elizabeth’s home. As she greeted her cousin, the baby John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth’s womb, and at that moment, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

There are three significant takeaways that I want to give you when it comes to John’s leaping inside the womb. First, this leaping could very well have been prophetic, as John’s calling was to rise up as the forerunner of the Messiah, Jesus. Much like a leap displays energy and action, John’s fiery message called the world to attention.

Secondly, John’s leaping was a sign of worship, as John seemingly acknowledged, even from the womb, that Jesus was God’s chosen instrument to save the world, not himself.

Finally, this leap is an undeniable pro-life statement. The term “baby” used in this passage is also the term for a “child” that Jesus later used when he said, “Let the little children (child) come unto me.” Only a life can worship Jesus. And the Bible recognizes this baby as a child. To God, this is so very clearly a life both inside and outside the womb. Jesus came to give life and life abundantly, and this message held power even while he was in the womb!