Christmas Music 1: Mary’s Song
Luke 1:46-55 December 9, 2018
What is it like to be a part of God’s over-arching plan? To be used for supernatural purposes? The Christmas story begins with a young peasant girl from a backwards village. Mary was probably a teenager when she found out she was pregnant. Pregnant and unmarried! Who would understand? Elizabeth, that’s who! Mary’s elderly cousin Elizabeth had also found herself in a questionable pregnancy. One cousin in the youth group and one at Blue Skies East! And both used by God in miraculous ways. Elizabeth would give birth to John the Baptizer, the forerunner of Jesus. And Mary, of course, would give birth to our Savior.
Here’s the context for today’s scripture: Mary has just arrived at her cousin’s house. Elizabeth reacts in great joy, as her unborn son summersaults in her womb! Elizabeth shouts how blessed she is to be in the presence of her Savior, even as this Savior is yet unborn.
In today’s scripture, Mary reponds in song to Elizabeth’s amazing joy. Mary’s song is called the “Magnificat,” which is the first word in the Latin translation. “Magnificat” means “glorifies,” as in, “My soul glorifies the Lord...”
Mary’s song is a song of praise. It’s one of a handful of songs in the gospel of Luke we’ll look at on the way to Christmas. Mary borrows heavily from Hannah’s song in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 2:1-10), when God allowed Hannah to become pregnant with the great prophet and priest Samuel. Mary also borrows from other Old Testament phrases. She obviously knows her Bible.
In her song, Mary praises God for three specific things. And she models for us how we should praise God as well. First,
Praise God for...
1. Doing great things for you (vv. 46-49)
That’s what Mary reminds us to do. She says in that famous line in verse 48, “From now on all generations will call me blessed.” Why will they do such a thing? She tells us in the very next verse: “for the Mighty One has done great things for me.” Mary does what we talked about the Sunday before Thanksgiving: she counts her blessings. She remembers what all God has done for her. Her blessed state comes from her Heavenly Blesser.
Do you know why Mary is so thankful? Because she is so humble, that’s why. Here’s this young woman who has spent her short lifetime loving God and recognizing how much God loves her. Now God chooses to do something completely new, to send his long-anticipated Messiah, and he has chosen to put that Messiah in her womb. That is new. That is mind-blowing! And it is something that causes Mary to praise God. Because she knows Christmas is not about her. It’s about the Savior, the one who will be born to her. God is doing great things for her, and she gives God praise.
What about you? Do you recognize all the wonderful things God has done for you? “Well, the food here is too bland!” At least you have food. “I don’t like my neighbor.” God has given you a royal opportunity to practice loving those who may not love you back. As you look for the good, as you hunt down the blessings, you will find them. I am reminded of this poem that you’ve probably heard before:
I asked God to take away my pain. God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, No.
Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No.
Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is earned.
I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No.
I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No.
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No.
I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me.
God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea. [Anonymous]
Look for the good. Praise God for doing great things for you. Secondly, praise God for...
2. Giving mercy to those who fear him (50-53)
Mary says, in verse 50, “His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” God promises his mercy to anyone who reveres his name, anyone who takes him seriously. This is going to be an important qualifier, as Mary speaks next about how God brings his mercy to the most unlikely of people.
Our world celebrates the rich, the well-to-do, the people at the top. Yet, in verses 51-53, Mary tells us to look elsewhere for God’s mercy. She says God raises up the poor and humble and hungry, while he brings down the rich, the prideful, and the power seekers. This is a constant theme in the Bible. You’ll find it in Hannah’s song. You’ll see it in Paul’s writings and in Jesus’ teachings to his disciples. The first will be last, and the last will be first. The proud will fall and the humble will be raised up.
Yesterday, Army played Navy for the 119th time. After Army’s win, the press interviewed the Army team captain, Bryce Holland, who earlier had thought about giving up football at West Point. Why? Because he wasn’t sure he could be a good cadet as well as a good football player. Now asked about their victory, he stated, “It’s all about the team. These guys just would not give up.” Holland chose to be humble in the face of great attention, which is God’s way for us. I heard one reporter say about yesterday’s game, “It’s the only football game today where the players on both sides would voluntarily give their lives for everyone watching the game.” And that’s why they call it military “service.”
God operates in paradoxes. His ways are not our ways. He is not impressed by our knowledge, by our accumulation of goods, by our catering to the wealthy. No, God gives mercy to those who revere his name, whoever they are, wherever they are. They may look poor and inconsequential and unknown now, but God knows their name. God knows their circumstance. And God will raise them up in his perfect timing. Pastor Rick Warren says, “God doesn’t settle all his accounts in thirty days.” Justice is coming. God will take care of you as you place your fear in him. Praise God for that! And lastly, praise God for...
3. Keeping his promises (54-55)
We have a God who always keeps his word. In verses 54 and 55, Mary shifts from an individual prayer to a prayer for her nation. She says, “He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” Mary reminds her listeners that this God who is doing a new thing is the same God who has always been there for her people. This is the God who made a covenant with his people, through Abraham, to be their God as they walked with him, year in and year out. This is the God who promised to send a Savior, a Messiah, who would save the people from their sins.
The ancient prophet Isaiah said this Messiah would be born of a Virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Micah foretold he would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Daniel talked about the timetable for the Messiah’s arrival (Daniel 9:24-27). Isaiah spoke of a suffering servant who would save his people (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Moses promised a prophet like him to deliver the people (Deuteronomy 18-15-19). Zechariah predicted this prophet would come riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), and would be pierced (Zechariah 12:10). Isaiah and David gave other uncanny details of his execution (Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22). Folks, over 300 Old Testament scriptures talk about Jesus! I’ve only given you a few. Scripture is God’s word. And Mary says, “I will praise my God who always keeps his word.”
Now notice it took hundreds of years before God sent his Messiah. And it is taking thousands of years before Jesus returns. (See last week’s message.) Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways. He may not answer on your timetable, but he is never late. He is always right on time.
In 2 Corinthians 1:20 Paul writes, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” Christmas is all about God keeping his word! Find God’s will in his word. Get to know the Bible and its promises as well as young Mary knew it. Read “Our Daily Bread” every day. Notice it’s not called, “Our Monthly Bread!” Allow God’s promises to flow into your life. And then bank on them. God always keeps his word!
We have a lot to praise God for at Christmas. With Mary, we can praise God who gives us every good thing. We can praise God who gives mercy to those who fear him. And we can praise God who always keeps his word. Let’s pray together:
Thank you, God, that you chose an unlikely young thing like Mary to be the mother of our Savior. Thank you for her willing, humble spirit and her recognition that you were behind it all, as you always are. Help us to follow her example in loving you, fearing you, and praising you. And thank you for our Savior born at Christmas, Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
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For welcome time:
As a little girl climbed onto Santa's lap, Santa asked the usual, “And what would you like for Christmas?”
The child stared at him open mouthed and horrified for a minute, then gasped: “Didn't you get my E-mail?”
CHURCH SIGN: “Tonight's sermon: ‘What is hell?’ Come early and listen to our carol practice.”
