*What (if any) is the purpose of the close proximity in the stories of Elizabeth and Mary's pregnancies in Luke 1?
There are several points of comparison between Elizabeth and Mary's conception and pregnancy that are worth our attention when studying Luke 1. I'll be handling each of the following questions in separate posts.
*What (if any) is the purpose of the close proximity in the stories of Elizabeth and Mary's pregnancies? (Today)
*What is the significance of Elizabeth's age? (Tomorrow/Friday)
*What is the significance of Elizabeth's barren status? (Saturday)
*What is the significance of Mary's virginity? (Sunday)
A disclaimer prior to sharing more thoughts: Not every anecdote or particular singular detail recorded holds some special, unique, or "hidden" purpose. God's Word is God's revelation to his people. It is through God's Word that the wisdom of the world is often foolishness or simple to God (Job 5:13, Psalm 94:11, 1 Corinthians 3:19). We are not to become biblical astrologers in our study and reading of God's Word. In our study we're not looking for mysterious jewels of hidden lore, or troves of locked away knowledge behind superstitious language. We're seeking to following along with, and carefully consider the intentions of God in revealing himself through the text at hand.
Some thoughts and potential considerations for answers:
*What (if any) is the purpose of the close proximity in the stories of Elizabeth and Mary's pregnancies?
This assumes a purpose at all other than simply retelling the history of these events in themselves. Yet Matthew, Mark, and John all omit the details concerning John the Baptist's miraculous conception and birth. Luke seems particularly focused on the details and sharing of these events.
One possible purpose is to closely tie together John and Jesus at an early age, pointing to, and foreshadowing their ministries later in life (Which Luke also goes into some detail about). This is seen in John being older than Jesus as well as Gabriel's message about John coming before his message about Jesus'. The timetable of the two seems to be John - then Jesus. Notice that the closeness of Elizabeth and Mary is in their relationship, their children's announcements, conceptions, and births. These two women, just as their children, would be linked and tied together forever throughout the history known to God's New Testament people.
Luke uniquely among the gospels ties Jesus and John together throughout the lifespan of John the Baptist. An argument could be made that while Jesus is included in the first several chapters of Luke and is indeed the focus, John comes in as a close second for the beginning of Luke's retelling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
John's ministry would be that of a crier or forerunner. Even from the womb his excitement at the coming of Christ was apparent. He would announce and prepare the people of the first century for the physical ministry of Jesus on earth (Luke 3). Jesus would be the fulfillment of God's promises through his covenants to Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon. The interwoven relationship of forerunner and King is connected from the birth announcements of both boys.
*What (if any) is the purpose of the close proximity in the stories of Elizabeth and Mary's pregnancies? (Today)
*What is the significance of Elizabeth's age? (Tomorrow/Friday)
*What is the significance of Elizabeth's barren status? (Saturday)
*What is the significance of Mary's virginity? (Sunday)
A disclaimer prior to sharing more thoughts: Not every anecdote or particular singular detail recorded holds some special, unique, or "hidden" purpose. God's Word is God's revelation to his people. It is through God's Word that the wisdom of the world is often foolishness or simple to God (Job 5:13, Psalm 94:11, 1 Corinthians 3:19). We are not to become biblical astrologers in our study and reading of God's Word. In our study we're not looking for mysterious jewels of hidden lore, or troves of locked away knowledge behind superstitious language. We're seeking to following along with, and carefully consider the intentions of God in revealing himself through the text at hand.
Some thoughts and potential considerations for answers:
*What (if any) is the purpose of the close proximity in the stories of Elizabeth and Mary's pregnancies?
This assumes a purpose at all other than simply retelling the history of these events in themselves. Yet Matthew, Mark, and John all omit the details concerning John the Baptist's miraculous conception and birth. Luke seems particularly focused on the details and sharing of these events.
One possible purpose is to closely tie together John and Jesus at an early age, pointing to, and foreshadowing their ministries later in life (Which Luke also goes into some detail about). This is seen in John being older than Jesus as well as Gabriel's message about John coming before his message about Jesus'. The timetable of the two seems to be John - then Jesus. Notice that the closeness of Elizabeth and Mary is in their relationship, their children's announcements, conceptions, and births. These two women, just as their children, would be linked and tied together forever throughout the history known to God's New Testament people.
Luke uniquely among the gospels ties Jesus and John together throughout the lifespan of John the Baptist. An argument could be made that while Jesus is included in the first several chapters of Luke and is indeed the focus, John comes in as a close second for the beginning of Luke's retelling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
John's ministry would be that of a crier or forerunner. Even from the womb his excitement at the coming of Christ was apparent. He would announce and prepare the people of the first century for the physical ministry of Jesus on earth (Luke 3). Jesus would be the fulfillment of God's promises through his covenants to Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon. The interwoven relationship of forerunner and King is connected from the birth announcements of both boys.
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