Elizabeth Welcomes her Cousin, Mary, the Mother of Jesus

 

Both Elizabeth and Mary lived within walking distance of one other near the Sea of Galilee, and both women were decendants of Aaron, the high priest. The angel Gabriel told Elizabeth that she and her husband, Zechariah, would become the parents of John the Baptist.

Like Sarah, the wife of Abraham, Elizabeth thought she was too old to become a mother, but she rejoiced with Mary, when she, too, found out that she also was going to have a child.

Both women sang beautiful songs of praise to God (Luke 1: 42 - 45; Luke 1 :46 - 56) for their deep thankfulness for God's goodness to each of them.

Elizabeth spoke in her own loud voice when Mary greeted her and spoke boldly to her friends and neighbors when she named the baby John.