Yes, after Mary learned she was to give birth to Jesus, miraculously via the Holy Spirit, she made a trip to see her relative Elisabeth. “And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.” Luke 1:39-40, Elisabeth, soon to be John the Baptist’s Mother.

There these two ladies fellowshipped around the things of God, obviously celebrating the Lord’s “mighty works!” Then after a few weeks, Mary returned to Nazareth. Here’s how Luke describes their parting: “And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to HER OWN HOUSE.” Luke 1:56

Get those last three words, “HER OWN HOUSE!”

Of course she would not have gone to Joseph’s house, too early for that! They were not yet “officially” married.

But one would have expected the Verse to say Mary returned to her “Parents’ house!” Or to her “Mother’s house!” Certainly not, in those patriarchal days, “her own house!”

Now here’s just a thought, at least a possibility, to explain this anomaly. No doubt TRUE, but quite atypical, “her own house.”

Maybe when Mary told her relatives about her “pregnancy” no one understood! Not her Dad. Not her Mom. None of her siblings, if she had any. (Most families at that time had numerous children, as did Mary and Joseph after the Virgin Birth of Jesus!) Maybe Mary faced ostracism from those she knew, rejection. Remember, the angel even had to go to Joseph to keep him “calm!”

“Her own house” … by herself?

“Her own house” … though belonging to her Parents … yet with her living secluded, isolated in a separate room?

“Her own house” … having had to rent some place of her own in her greatest hour of need! (This one might be really “stretching” things!)

But the Holy Spirit never wastes words!

Again our text: “And Mary abode with her (Elisabeth) about three months, and returned to HER OWN HOUSE.”

Maybe the “sword” Simeon predicted had already begun to cut! “And Simeon (in the Temple) blessed them (Joseph here included), and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against. YEA, A SWORD SHALL PIERCE THROUGH THY OWN SOUL ALSO.” Luke 2:34-35

We may never know the “price” Mary paid in Jesus’ Birth.

We do know she lived a while (six months or so) in “her own house!”

Wow!

The Catholics think too highly of Mary, I know.

But some of us probably do not honor her enough, the Mother of our Lord Jesus.

Merry Christmas everybody.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell