Elizabeth was the Mother of John the Baptist. She was married to a Priest called Zechariah, the couple had no child till their old age when the angel brought the revelation that Elizabeth would give birth to a son who shall be called John.
When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. LUKE 1:57–58
Few joys in life are felt as deeply as that of a mother who is blessed with a child after many years of struggling to become pregnant. This was the wonderful experience of Elizabeth, and we are privileged to share in her joy year after year as we read the scriptures surrounding the Christmas story.
Elizabeth was the wife of a priest named Zechariah, and both of them served God blamelessly. Elizabeth was also a relative of Mary, who would later give birth to Jesus. When we first read about Elizabeth and her husband, they are already very old, and they have been unable to bear any children (Luke 1:5–7).
But once, while Zechariah was on duty in the temple, an angel appeared to him and announced that Elizabeth would have a son, and they were to name him John (whom we know as “John the Baptist”).
About the same time, an angel appeared to Mary and announced that she would give birth to Jesus and that Elizabeth would also bear a child.
When Mary went to visit Elizabeth, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and her child leaped in her womb. In a wonderful testament of faith and humility, Elizabeth asked, “Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43).
Elizabeth did indeed give birth to a son, and they named him John, as the angel had instructed. All her neighbors and relatives shared in her great joy.
Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was no small event. She was already expecting a child, and it would have taken her about three days to travel from Nazareth to the hills of Judea. She then stayed with Elizabeth for about three months before making the same journey back to Nazareth — three months further along in her pregnancy
(Luke 1:39, 56).