Mother's Day 2015 (Elizabeth)

Mother’s Day 2015: Elizabeth

Scott Bayles, pastor

Blooming Grove Christian Church: 4/10/2015

Happy Mother’s Day! Have you found that perfect Mother’s Day gift yet? Each year Americans spend roughly $670 million on Mother’s Day cards and another $1.9 billion on flowers. When your kids are younger, it's a day of handmade cards and homemade breakfasts. When they're older, it's brunch and flowers. Mother's Day is always a special day, no matter what your age.

I’m reminded of two little boys who bought their mom a wreath of flowers for Mother’s Day. They were so excited to give it to her because they had used their own money. Mom held back laughter when she saw the ribbon that said, “Rest in peace.” The older of the two boys explained, “We thought it would be just perfect since you are always asking for a little peace and quiet so that you can rest!”

Let’s face it...without our Moms, we'd be a disaster! When you scraped your knee, had a rough day at school, or needed advice, she was always there to give you a hug and listen with love. Moms play an important role in our lives and they also play an important role in the Bible. The Canon Scripture is a roll call of great (and some not-so-great) moms—starting with Eve the mother of us all on down through the centuries to Mary the mother of Jesus.

This morning I’d like to share the story of an often overlooked mom. In Luke 1, the tale is told of an older couple named Elizabeth and Zechariah—the soon-to-be parents of John the Baptist. Elizabeth and Zechariah, however, share the stage in Luke 1 with a younger couple named Mary and Joseph. It’s no surprise that the birth of our Savior often overshadows the no-less-miraculous birth of his cousin John. But on this Mother’s Day, I’d like to focus on Elizabeth and the experience of this expectant mom.

The Bible introduces this couple to us, saying:

“When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.” (Luke 1:5-6 NLT).

As we continue through this chapter, we slowly discover a compelling portrait of motherhood. It’s a picture that I think most moms can relate to. First, for Elizabeth, motherhood was struggle-filled.

• STRUGGLE-FILLED

The very next verse reveals Elizabeth’s greatest struggle: “They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old” (Luke 1:7 NLT). Elizabeth struggled to get pregnant—which was a common problem in the Bible just as it is today. For any couple struggling with infertility, the desire to have a child can become overwhelming. Trying to get pregnant can be an emotional roller coaster that includes depression, anxiety, grief, and jealousy. In Jewish culture, not being able to conceive was seen as punishment from God, so Elizabeth had that added stigma on top of what was already a painful struggle.

Even if you didn’t struggle to have kids, I don’t have to tell you it’s a struggle to raise kids! The point is—all moms struggle. Erma Bombeck once said, “The easiest part of being a mother is giving birth. The hardest part is showing up for it each day...”A mom’s job is never done. When your kids are little, life can often feel like a never ending battle against dirty dishes, piles of laundry, and crayon covered walls. Then there are those days where the kids act like they have been raised by wolves. The days when they look at you with this confused expression as though you are speaking a language they cannot seem to understand, which they demonstrate by doing exactly what you ask them NOT to do! The days when they run and scream throughout the house getting into drawers, climbing on furniture, jumping on the couch, chasing their siblings around, pushing and shoving and screaming and yelling. Some days, your kids just drive you crazy. And admitting that doesn’t make you bad mom; it makes you normal. Dealing with diapers, tantrums, and the terrible twos is nothing compared to the complex inner struggles of being a mother—the concerns about whether you’re doing a good job as a mother, or whether other moms struggle as much as you do, or worrying about your teenager when they’re out two hours past curfew, or constant concern you might feel for your grown children who have left the church or abandoned their faith.

Elizabeth had yet to experience these struggles, but we can be sure she did. They’re common to all moms. But what’s important, I think, is how Elizabeth dealt with her struggles. When the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah to announce that Elizabeth would give birth to a son, he says, “God has heard your prayer” (Luke 1:13 NLT).