Consider a friendship sometimes overlooked in Luke 1, one which is a great example to us, the friendship between Elizabeth and Mary the mother of Jesus. Common women but possessing important qualities, they played a huge part in the history of mankind and purpose of God. Their friendship existed because of these qualities.
One quality was the reverence each of these women had for God and the resulting importance each placed on knowing her God. In verse 6 of Luke 1, Elizabeth is described as “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.” Quite a tribute. In Mary’s song in verses 46-55, she quoted from the Old Testament 15 times; she also knew the Word of God.
Another important quality of Mary and Elizabeth was faith, faith that God knew what he was doing and faith that submitted to his will. The angel’s message to Mary was epic, mind-blowing, news which was certainly an honor but also news of a huge responsibility and news which would change her life forever; but her response was, “’Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word’”(v. 38). The angel told her of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, and Mary immediately traveled to her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary evidences a faith that God was fulfilling his promise to her regarding her own child and also fulfilling his promise to mankind regarding the Messiah: she said to Mary, “’For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord’”(vv. 44-45).
Mary and Elizabeth were at different points in their lives. Although Elizabeth was 5-6 months pregnant with John the Baptist, she was past the age of childbearing and is estimated to have been at least 60 years old, possibly in her 80s. Mary, on the other hand, was not yet married and probably in her teens. They lived at least 60 miles apart, a daunting trip in their day. Yet Luke 1 tells us that Mary traveled “with haste” directly to Elizabeth’s home and stayed with her for three months. We don’t know that they ever saw one another again after those three months, but at this crucial time in their lives they helped each other. Each could be the friend that the other needed because each had a reverence for the one true God, was a serious student of God’s Word, and had the faith to recognize and submit to the will of God.
When we make God the priority in our lives; when we are true students of his Word; when we have faith to recognize and submit to his will–this is when we will be drawn to friends who help us in our spiritual walk and endeavors. This is also when we will be best prepared to be the right friend when someone else needs us, whether that need lasts for three months or a lifetime.