"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb." Luke 1:41
Proximity to Jesus was a big deal when he walked the Earth. Scholars and others within earshot of his preaching listened in speechless wonder. People climbed trees to see his face in a crowd and tore roofs off of houses in pursuit of his healing power. The mere brush of his robe could end a chronic illness.
Although the gospel writers aptly assigned him the title of "Baptist", John's in utero acrobatics in the presence of Mary and Jesus deserve at least a bullet on his spiritual resume. His "leap" in verse 41 may not seem like an extraordinary detail until Luke underscores it with a second mention in verse 44 as a leap "of joy". Even as a six month old fetus, John was apparently instructing us in the character of praise.
Let us be reminded of our own proximity to Jesus as we anticipate the celebration of his birth. John was no nearer to him than we are now. Through the soul-encompassing work of God the Spirit, God the Son occupies your very heart. With every dollar we spend this season let us remember the price he paid to draw us close. With every gift we receive let us give thanks for the gift of our future presence with him in glory. Feel the joy and peace that energizes us when he is the focus of our praise.
Like John the Gymnast, we have every reason to leap.
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