Read: Luke 1:39-45
"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!'"
Luke 1:41-42
The very first person–other than Mary–to recognize the incarnate Lord was a baby in the womb. John the Baptist–while still in the womb of his mother–“leaped” in his mother’s womb at the presence of the Messiah. And make note, the Messiah was also in the womb of His mother at that time. There are two separate and independent responses in this passage. First, John (while in his mother’s womb) leaps for joy when Jesus (also in His mother’s womb) comes into his presence. And, second, Elizabeth is also filled with the Holy Spirit and inspired to declare, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Let’s look at both of these instances.
First, how is it that a child in the womb of his mother recognized the presence of the Messiah? Recall in Luke 1:15 that Gabriel declares John will be “filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.” John recognized the presence of our Lord because the Holy Spirit made him aware that he was in the presence of God. How does a child in the womb recognize that? That is the mysterious part. We don’t know how a child in the womb could recognize such a thing, but–at the very least–we can take comfort in knowing the Holy Spirit can reveal the truth of the gospel to whomever He chooses.
Next, we read that Elizabeth was also filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized the presence of Jesus in His mother’s womb. Carefully look at the passage: no one told Elizabeth that Mary was pregnant with Jesus (well, no human being). She reached this information by a revelation from the Holy Spirit. So what are we to make of these two points?
The main truth to understand is that the Holy Spirit can (and does) open the hearts and minds of anyone to understand and recognize the work of Christ. Though God can use reason, ideas, testimonies, circumstances, situations, and you, ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit that reveals the truth of the gospel to all who repent and believe. If He can reveal this truth to a child in the womb (whatever that means), He can reveal this truth to those most ignorant and obstinate toward the gospel.
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Prayer: Thank you, Holy Spirit, for opening my eyes to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray that you open the heart and mind of [insert the name of a lost friend or family here]. May they come to understand the glorious joy and peace found only in Jesus Christ. Amen!