I went back this morning and looked at where Mary was praising the Lord and seen where she is quoting to Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel. If you remember, Hanna prayed for a child. She was barren and was ridiculed because she could not conceive. After many tears (crying so much that Eli the priest thought she was drunk), she prayed and left it to God. Well, we know God always shows up when we pray in faith…
Hannah’s weeping soon turned to joy with the birth of her son Samuel. She was quick to give this child back to the Lord (as she had prayed tearfully before conception). As I ponder on the thought again today that “Mary did know”, I can’t help but see the comparison and I love how God weaves the Old and New together is a beautiful blanket of His mercy.
Hannah was rejoicing because The Lord had given her the child she desperately wanted…but…
Mary rejoiced because God had allowed her to be the mother to the child the world desperately NEEDED.
Thank you, Lord!…oh, the cold chills that run over me as I type those words!
Hannah gave her son back to The Lord, while Mary allowed her Son to be given for all mankind, because she knew He was the Savior of the world.
She knew y’all. She knew that the answer to the weeping of the world around her was swaddled up in her arms. I’m sure she didn’t know how everything would play out with His torture, crucifixion and death on the cross…but I’m sure HER weeping was turned to joy when He defeated death, hell and the grave!
Because of Bethlehem, we have hope. If it wasn’t for Christmas, there would be no eternal life.
