TEXT: Luke 1:39-56

SUBJECT: Studies in the Nativity #3: The Magnificat

Our story begins in Nazareth of Galilee where an angel has told a young woman that she will bear the Son of God. The angel is Gabriel--God's special envoy; the woman is Mary, the mother of our Lord.

The angel told her what would happen; he did not tell her what to do. But Mary is quite thoughtful and doesn't need everything "spelled out" for her. Her cousin, Elisabeth, is also carrying a special son; why not go see her and fortify each other's faith?

Off she goes to "the hill country" of Judea, south of Jerusalem. She comes to the door and calls out to her cousin.

When Elisabeth hears something wonderful happens: "the babe leaps in her womb". The unborn Baptist is happy to meet Mary--it seems--and the Savior she carries in her womb.

John is not alone in his joy. Elisabeth feels it too:

"Blessed are you among women,

And blessed is the fruit of your womb.

But why is it granted to me,

that the mother of my Lord should

come to me?"

Hers is a humble joy or a joyful humility. Elisabeth and Mary are members of the same family--but not of the same class! Elisabeth is the wife of a priest and a daughter of the ruling family of Israel. But Mary? She's a peasant girl, engaged to a poor working man. Yet Elisabeth knows the truth: Mary is more "blessed" than she is--or any other woman-- for she has in her womb The Son of God.

The old woman pronounces Mary "blessed" or happy, for the promise of God will soon be "fulfilled".

Mary is touched by the joy of the moment. And adds to it with a song of her own. We call it "The Magnificat".

It begins with a personal testimony:

"My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced

in God my Savior;

For He has regarded the lowly state

of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations

will call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done

Great things for me,

and holy is His name".

Mary "magnifies the Lord". This means "to make bigger". Not that she makes Him "bigger", of course, but she "makes her thoughts of Him bigger". That's what she does. The God she knew in Scripture has become more real to her; the God who acted long ago in books, has now acted in her. She'll never entertain "small thoughts" of Him again. His great goodness makes her "rejoice in God my Savior".

Why? Because "He has done great things for me". "Regarding her lowly estate" and giving her a name that will be live forever.

Mary's Song closely resembles the song of Hannah, when God gave her Samuel. And, it enlarges upon Psalm 66:16:

"Come and hear, all you who fear God,

And I will declare what He has done

for my soul".

Personal testimonies may be overdone--I know that. But they can also be underdone. It is quite proper to thank God for personal blessings; and to do so in public. If you think otherwise, read the Song of Mary, and the Psalms from which it is mostly drawn.

Having said this, she goes on to say what her Son is and what He will do.

What is Christ? He is the final proof of God's great and enduring grace--"His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation". A Puritan once preached a sermon with this fetching title: "Christ, the Mercy of God".

What will He do? Just what you'd expect Him to do: punish the proud and comfort the humble.

"He has shown strength with His arm;

He has scattered the proud in the

imaginations of their hearts;

He has put down the mighty

from their thrones.

And exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry

with good things,

and the rich He has sent away empty".

In Christ, God has done what any good and wise person would do. He has turned the world upside down--"Resisted the proud and given grace to the lowly".

But someone says: "He has not done that! The world is as unjust as ever!" True, but He's not finished yet. Yet He will be one day; and everything will be set right. Mary is so sure of it, she uses the past tense in her verbs--"scattered the proud, put down the mighty, exalted the lowly, filled the hungry" and so on.

Why? Because the promises of God are so sure that--once made--they are as good as done. He "Calls those things which are not as though they were". We must believe the promise--not because it seems likely or even possible--but because of the One who made it. "God cannot lie".

For three months Mary stayed with her cousin. Then she went home. That's how Luke ends the story. Why does he say that? It's kind of a letdown, isn't it? After the exalted songs of Mary and Elisabeth, why put this in?

Some Dreamer will find a reference to the Trinity in the "Three months"; another will think "House" very significant. But I think a simpler reason is in order: Luke wants us to know this really happened. He's not crafted a story ; he's just "telling like it like it is".

The story is beautiful, to be sure. But in reading it, does any one thing stand out? Is it the dearness of family or the blessing of children? Or the affinity two spiritual women feel for each other? All of these are there; but not what the story is about.

What is it about? It's about the happiness our Lord brings. Jesus brings joy is a good way of putting it. Look back at the verses and you'll find everyone overflowing with joy. John "leaping in the womb"; Elisabeth bursting into praise; Mary singing her song.

What makes them so happy? It's not seeing each other after all these years; it's not Elisabeth's amazing pregnancy. It is

"Jesus only".

He is the cause of their joy; the only cause; a Sufficient Cause. These are not "party girls" pretending to have a good time; they are devout women

"Rejoicing in the Lord".

They're not the last to do it. A few months later, the "Heavenly Host" will join the celebration; later, Simeon, that old man who "waited for the consolation of Israel" and Anna, too, the prophetess, who "looked for"--and found--"Redemption in Jerusalem".

The party that began in the house of Elisabeth is still going on. And you're invited! In the Gospel, God invites you to "rejoice in the Lord Jesus".

What's more, He gives you ample reason for joy. Why should you "rejoice in the Lord"? Because:

No unsaved person "rejoices in the Lord". This is wrong, of course; but it's more than wrong. It is also sad and pathetic. How heartbreaking it is to rejoice in anything else! Only He satisfies; only He satisfies deeply and forever. All else is a narcotic--making you feel good for a short time, but leaving you empty in the end. And worse-off than you were before.

I wish I could say every believer "rejoices in the Lord". But if I did, I'd be lying. In fact, we rejoice in many things other than Christ. Some of them are just plain bad. Others are good, but not worthy of our joy. We rejoice in men; we rejoice in doctrines; we rejoice in spiritual gifts. The Corinthians did all this, but Paul corrected them with a quote from Jeremiah,

"He who glories, let him

glory in the Lord".

And no one else. Why not? Because He--and no one else/nothing else--became for us "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption". In short, Christ is

"All in All".

What will you do with Him? You can do with Him as you please, of course. But I think it's wise to mark the example of two ladies who lived long ago in a place far away. I urge you to

"Magnify the Lord [and]

Rejoice in God [your] Savior".