The Baby Bump Sign

The Baby Bump Sign

Luke 1:34 – Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 – The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. 36 – “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age – although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 37 – For nothing will be impossible with God.”

As I was reading these verses this morning it occurred to me that being barren and being a virgin both end up with the same result: childlessness.  Zechariah doubted the words of Gabriel and said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.”  Mary also doubted the words of Gabriel and said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” Have you ever wondered why Mary didn’t lose her voice like Zechariah?

There’s a major difference between Zechariah and Mary.  With Zechariah it had been done before.  Think about Sarah and Hannah, both were married women but childless – they were barren. Abraham and Sarah were also very old as well.  Zechariah, a priest with knowledge of the Scriptures, should not have doubted since such powerful precedents of God’s power were already recorded in Scripture.  With Mary, however, she was to be the first.  With Mary a virgin birth had never happened before.  It was understandable that she would doubt and so the angel directed Mary’s attention to Elizabeth’s baby bump.

Elizabeth’s pregnancy was definitely a miracle and Gabriel indicated that she was six months along as a sign to Mary that if God can cause her aged, living relative to get pregnant He can also cause a virgin to get pregnant.  Barrenness and virginity are not impossible obstacles for God.  Saving you and me are also not impossible obstacles for God.  Let salvation happen in your life and in your home!

Jesus will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” – Luke 1:32-33.