He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the vain thoughts of their heart. He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath lifted up those of humble state. The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath given help to Israel his servant That he might remember mercy As he spoke to our fathers, Toward Abraham and his children forever. For three months Mary stayed with Elizabeth in that quiet home, the old woman and the young woman, both soon to be mothers, talked together day after day. Perhaps by this time people were going to another feast in Jerusalem, and Mary found again a party of pilgrims--for that was the name that they gave to people going to Jerusalem to worship--who were returning to Galilee. She went home, comforted in spirit and made strong by her visit with Elizabeth. It was either while Mary was visiting with Elizabeth, or soon after her return to her home, that Joseph, her promised husband, began to question in his mind whether he ought to marry her. There was a strange look in her face, and he saw that she had thoughts in her mind of which she could not speak to him. He loved her deeply, and it was with sorrow that he asked himself whether they would be happy together. But one night, while he was sleeping, a dream came to Joseph. In his dream he saw an angel standing by his side. The angel said to him: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary for your wife. She shall have a son; and his name shall be Jesus, for it is he that shall save his people from their sins." The word Jesus, in the language of that people, means "Saviour," and often Jesus is spoken of as "Our Saviour" because he came to take away our sins. After this message, Joseph hesitated no longer. He did as the angel had bidden him. He was married to Mary, and led her to his own home, in which was also the shop where he followed his trade as a carpenter. The Boy Who Never Tasted Wine CHAPTER 6 NOT LONG after Mary's visit, the child promised to Zacharias and Elizabeth was born. In Jewish families the coming of a child into the home was always the cause of great gladness; and the gladness was greater at the birth of this baby, because this was the first child, and the father and mother were old. All the friends of Zacharias and Elizabeth came to see them and to rejoice with them over the boy whom God had given them. "He must be named Zacharias after his father," said the visitors. "Not so," answered the mother; "he shall be named John." "Why should you give him that name?" they said. "None of your family has ever been called John." But Elizabeth insisted that her boy should bear the name John.