Chapter 2: Things Like That Don't Happen Anymore (Mary)

Chapter 2 - Things Like That Don't Happen Anymore (Mary)
This chapter is from Mary's perspective. It begins with Joseph running to tell Mary that Elizabeth is pregnant. Mary reacts in shock and refers to Elizabeth as her great-aunt. Both of these have the ability to confuse kids (and adults) who have always been told that Elizabeth is Mary’s cousin, and that it was an angel that informs Mary that Elizabeth is pregnant. You can do your own research, but below is what I found:
1. Ask your child if they can think of English words that have multiple meanings (for example, bark, nail, mine, current, date, etc.). Help your child understand that just like in English, some words in the original language of the Bible can also have multiple meanings. Translators work hard and pray about the final version, but they still had to make difficult decisions in how they worded the scriptures we know today. Read Luke 1:36 and discuss how Mary and Elizabeth could have been related.
We actually don’t know how Elizabeth and Mary were related to each other - just that they were relatives. Although they’ve often been called cousins, the original word used is better translated “kinswoman.” This can be used for any relative. Since Mary was very young and Elizabeth was too old to have a child, the author thought ‘great-aunt’ and ‘great-niece’ seemed more likely.
2. Discuss with your child times you've heard ‘rumors’ before something was ‘official.’ Perhaps it was an engagement, a co-worker getting a promotion, friends started dating, or someone moving away. Read Luke 1:25 and discuss that Elizabeth not having children brought her ‘disgrace.’ We don’t know how other people heard about Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Because of her “disgrace among the people,” there might have been gossip when she did become pregnant! It would have been a huge surprise. That gossip may have easily spread throughout the area all the way to Galilee, where (in this story) Joseph hears it. The angel, Gabriel, did announce the baby to Mary, but she could have heard of the pregnancy earlier.
3. If you desire, discuss the stories of Sarah and Abraham (Genesis 18:1-15), and Hannah, the mother of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1 - 2:10). Both of these will appear in later chapters as well.
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