Luke 1:46–49 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
As we prepare for Christmas this year, we want to reflect on some remarkable things that young Mary shares. Earlier, the news came to Mary from the angel Gabriel that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, the promised Messiah. Following Gabriel’s announcement, Mary visited her relative, Elizabeth, who was miraculously pregnant with John the Baptist at her advanced age. Though Jesus is newly conceived in Mary, when she meets Elizabeth, who is six months pregnant, the baby John leaps within his mother’s womb with joy because of the presence of Jesus the Messiah. (Jesus nor John are mere clumps of cells.)
We can only imagine the thoughts racing through Mary's mind, who is likely in her early to mid-teens. She’s a young peasant girl experiencing God’s overflowing mercy and kindness. Elizabeth and Zachariah are going to have a baby. Additionally, the expectation of the arrival of the promised Messiah has been running high among the people of Israel. Mary realizes she is God’s chosen vessel to miraculously conceive and bear the Messiah, the promised Savior.
Mary expresses her thoughts and feelings in song. In this song, she weaves together over twelve Old Testament quotations. Her ability to do so shows her familiarity with Scripture and her God-exalting comprehension of its truths, which she correctly applies to her life and the lives of all those blessed by Jesus's coming.
With buoyant praise, Mary’s soul is inspired by the enormity of God and His redemptive purpose that has swept her up in an avalanche of grace. She humbly acknowledges that she is a sinner in need of a Savior that God is physically sending to the earth through her body. Her heart erupts with gratitude for the undeserved kindness God shows her through her Son, who is to be her Savior. The delight she feels will be reaffirmed by many coming generations who will reap the benefits of God's saving grace through her child, the incarnate Son of God. The blood of bulls and goats does not take away sin, but her Son's blood will. Almighty God is doing great things for her and for all those who trust in her Son as Savior and Lord. She knows God’s holiness means He is unlike any other god, for they demand performance from their worshipers, while the benevolent God supplies everything His worshipers need.
The opening lines of Mary’s song of Scriptural praise give us plenty to ponder. In our celebration of Christmas, let our souls magnify the Lord as we rejoice in God’s provision of a desperately needed Savior. Joyfully extol the Lord as you worship throughout this Christmas season. Honor your God’s benevolence in the giving and receiving of gifts. And may your greatest delight be that the Lord has done, and continues to do, great things in and through you. Praise His holy name!
Merry Christmas!
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