MARY AND THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit – what happened and what did she do?
The Word became flesh and Mary became the Mother of God. Mary immediately went to visit her relative Elizabeth. When she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth, something great happened: the Holy Spirit descended on Elizabeth. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and her baby likewise benefited greatly from that special visit. Zechariah also was filled with the Holy Spirit, which became manifest on the day of his son’s birth. Zechariah spoke a prophecy about his child (Lk 1:68-79). Mary remained in the house of Zechariah about three months. But she was not alone there. Jesus Christ, true God, dwelt in her. She had become the living ark, the living tabernacle. She was filled with the light of the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, the time had not yet come for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on the New-Testament Church – the Body of Christ – but all in the house of Zechariah already had the firstfruits of the Holy Spirit through Mary. Let us notice that here the Holy Spirit manifested Himself as the Spirit of prophecy (cf. 1Cor 12:10-11). Elizabeth prophesied, saying: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” No one had told Elizabeth that Mary was pregnant. Moreover, she was pregnant for less than a week, and pregnancy is not recognized so early. However, Elizabeth did recognize it, not by her reason but the Holy Spirit revealed it to her. Elizabeth called Mary blessed because Mary believed that what the Lord had said to her would be fulfilled. But Mary had not yet told Elizabeth about it, she just greeted her. Elizabeth prophesied, Zechariah prophesied, and what about the child, John the Baptist? His spiritual benefit from the visit was obviously the greatest one. He became the greatest prophet. Jesus said about him some time later: “Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.” (Mt 11:11)
Everything has a beginning. You ask when John as a prophet had his beginning. When did he receive the Spirit of prophecy, when did he become a prophet? Studying carefully the Word of God concerning John, we find out: He was sanctified and made a prophet in the womb of his mother. He of whom John bore witness and for the sake of whom he laid down his life came to visit him though He had not yet been born. He came through His mother Mary. How did John respond to the visit? Elizabeth testifies to this: “Indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” A special reaction: the babe leaped for joy. The Holy Spirit who shone through Mary penetrated both Elizabeth and her six-month-old son in her womb.
“…why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” When Jesus said to another John on Calvary: “Behold your mother!”, he could likewise reply: “Why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43) He received her into his own.
The Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out and the house of Zechariah already had the firstfruits of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit descended on the Bridegroom’s friend – John the Baptist. John testifies some time later: “I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Jn 1:33) Mary is the bearer of the living God, the living tabernacle of God. Mary has a special relation to the Holy Spirit. Through her the Holy Spirit performs His greatest work: the Incarnation of the second divine Person. On the day of Pentecost, Mary intercedes with perseverance for the apostles to become the instruments of the Holy Spirit as well. John the Baptist is the greatest Old-Testament prophet and the greatest prophet of the New Testament is another John, the disciple of the Lord. He is not only an apostle, a disciple, an evangelist but a prophet too. He wrote the only and last book of the New Testament which relates to the future of the Church. Let us notice that both these great prophets stood in close relation to Mary.
John the Baptist immediately prepares the way of the Lord and clearly points to Jesus. He no longer speaks in riddles or obscure prophecies which one can interpret as one likes and hence degrade the Word of God. John speaks clearly: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29), and he points to Jesus. No obscurities, no ambiguities but plain speaking! Today we need such prophets or prophet. It was no merit of John’s that he could clearly point to Jesus while others were not granted this opportunity. Today we need prophets who will show us how to live with Christ in practice, how to practise meekness and humility. How to begin and how to continue. We need prophets who will give us answers to our obscurities. We cannot live a life of victory and power on the foundation of obscurities. We need to know how to live. If we do not know it, we will be erring like the Church has been erring over 2000 years. Moreover, today the Church has become a stumbling block to the world; she neither preaches nor lives according to the Gospel of Christ.
We ask: How to live the life of freedom, victory and power? Answer: We don’t know! However, instead of the right answer one usually rattles dozens of human theories which are lifeless and powerless. The way to freedom is voluntary slavery of the Lord. An example is Mary: “I am the slave of the Lord!” If only Mary taught us this greatest art! The task of Mary, Mother of the Church, is to teach her children to be what she was herself: slaves of the Lord. Only such a soul can be an obedient instrument of God and enjoy true freedom.
John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit of prophecy which had been in Elijah. We are before the Second Coming of Christ. And this very time needs prophets who will clearly and concretely prepare the people of God for the Second Coming of Christ. There are many false prophets who just cause confusion, many deny Christ’s divinity, others emphasize inessential things and omit Jesus and communion with Him through faith and self-denial. Today we need prophets like John the Baptist. He went before Christ in the power of Elijah. If sound and solid foundations are not prepared, then if there is an awakening and people are not prepared, the consequence is that people fall into confusion and false teachers easily lead them astray. We need to prepare. People prepare for all kinds of vanities so as not to be caught unawares. But we need to prepare for the most important event – the Second Coming of Christ – by prayer, desire, life of repentance, adoption of the sound teaching of the Gospel and imitation of Christ.
Shortly before the first coming, God created a new world – Mary – and it was through her that Jesus came. And it will also be through Mary that He will come the second time, and indeed soon! John the Prophet came in the power of Elijah and pointed to Christ. Before the Second Coming, another prophet will come, in the spirit and power of Elijah again, and clearly point to Jesus Christ! The Holy Spirit worked both in John the Prophet and in Mary, Mother of Jesus. It will be the same this time.
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