Luke 1:46-5

And Mary said:  “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

The Lord reveals His revelation to Mary and she responds in worship, but Mary is the not the only one to receive a divine visitor.  What is amazing is that every manifestation of God associated with the birth of Jesus Christ is immediately followed by the witnesses worshiping because of the manifestation.

• Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist, at his son’s birth, responds in worship. Luke 1:68: “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.”
• The shepherds in Luke chapter 2 are visited by an angelic host while they are keeping watch over their flock by night. It is revealed to them that born unto them, in the City of David, is a Savior who is Christ the Lord. They go to Bethlehem, find the parents and the baby and, in verse 20: “The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.”
• Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple for her purification, according to the Law of Moses, and in Luke 2:29-32 Simeon responds in praise with: “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
• Anna then responded in Luke 2:38 with worship and witnessing: “She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.”
• The Magi in Matthew 2:1-2 see a new star and travel to find the newborn king to worship Him: “About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

Often our response to God’s revelation is whining when it could be worship. Must we be bludgeoned by a 2×4 or will we see the Christmas spirit for what it truly is, one of worshipping God. Before Mary worshipped in the Magnificat, she responded to Gabriel: “Let it be to me according to your word.” Worship is the voluntary, sacrificial offering of praise from an obedient heart to God both for who He is and what He has done. Her obedient worship reminds us that God is:

• MIGHTY for His people (v 49)

As Mary sings about God’s might again and again she refers to his great deeds: Verse 51a: “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm”; Verse 51b: “He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts” Verse 52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble”. Verse 53 “He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty”. Verse 54 “He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful”.

It is not just about might in power but in presence, Mary is singing about God showing up in strength to bring us victory. Because of the mighty deeds of God, sin would be overcome, as God turned the world upside down, or should I say, right side up. When you use a magnifying glass, it doesn’t change the size of what you look at, it changes your perception. Mary’s perception was now enlarged so she tells others through song of how great she sees her God. Mary had an enlarged sense of God’s power and presence and her song reveals a much deeper reason for her appreciation of God, because He is mighty He will not fail you.

• MERCIFUL toward His people (vv 50-54)

Mary’s song reveals three aspects of His mercy: The power in verses 51-52, the provision in verse 53 and the promise in verse 54-55. Mary also names three specific groups that God is merciful to: The helpless (vs 51), the humble (vs 52), and the hungry (vs 53). God’s mercy and justice is seen as the weak dethrone the mighty, the humble scatter the proud, the nobodies are exalted, the hungry are filled, and the rich end up poor. Mary reminds us that all of this would take place because of the Lord as five times she says “He has…” Jesus said “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” and “those who are last will be first, and first will be last” It is God’s mercy that makes the difference and these verses are a great reminder that Jesus came for everyone: Regardless of their status in the world the humble are valued by God, and even the arrogant can humble themselves and become right with God. The oppressed find mercy and help and the oppressors can stop their oppression, and find grace. Those who are weak can be strong in God and the strong can admit their weakness apart from God, and find true strength. Yet we have to come to God on His terms not our own if we want to experience His wisdom, wealth, and His wholeness. When you come to Christ you find forgiveness, so will you must humble yourself, admit your weakness and turn from your sin?

Luke 1:46-55

46 And Mary said:  “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Mary’s song of praise is known as the ‘Magnificat’, because in the Latin translation, the first word is ‘magnificent’, which means ‘praise’ or ‘magnify’. It is the stirring of her soul as she contemplates why God would use a seeming nobody like her to bring His salvation to a world of lost sinners. It is the pure praise that flows without rehearsal or forethought from a heart of worship. Revealing her response to the revelation that she is the one appointed to bear and bring forth the long-awaited and promised Messiah. How much she really understood of her son’s ultimate mission to the world in this initial announcement we don’t fully know. What we do know is that her song reveals simple humble adoration, amazement of what God was doing in her life through the child which she carried. Mary’s song is a soul exploding with joy, wonder, and awe at the Almighty. What I love is that her first response to the message of the angelic being was worship and in this song she reminds us that God is:

• The MESSIAH (v47)

The keyword in Mary’s song is savior, it is the first thing she sang about, words of praise to God for His salvation. A messiah is a savior or liberator of people, Mary understood that Jesus was her spiritual Savior “my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Salvation is precious because:

1. It was Planned out even before the beginning of the world to rescue and redeem a fallen, rebellious, and helpless race from eternal destruction. Ephesians 1:4 – “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”
2. It was Purchased with a Price, the very blood of the Son of God 1 Peter 1:18-19 – For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
3. It was Personal, Mary said: “my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”

God planned for your salvation He even paid for your salvation but is it personal? Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Savior? How significant is the gift of Salvation? Do you remember in Luke 10:17-24 when the disciples were sent out by Jesus and then came back ecstatic about being able to perform miracles? Do you remember how Jesus responded to their enthusiasm? He said that’s good, but there is something greater to get excited about, “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven” Redemption is our greatest cause to rejoice, to worship because of the unmerited, undeserved saving provision He has made in, by and through Jesus Christ. Today will you praise Him for the provision?

• MINDFUL of His people. (v 48)

It’s easy to feel lost and alone in this life, like we don’t even matter, yet the message of the Christmas story is that God is mindful of His people. Mary’s song reflects the pure grandeur of the meaning of the coming of the Christ, her soul rejoices because God had been mindful of her humble state. We too are invited to rejoice because, like Mary, God has not forgotten us in our humble state. Instead of being ignored God stooped low into the mire of our sin soaked world to rescue us. Mary recognized that she had been touched by the graciousness of God, that He cared and she was not alone. Being wanted is a basic human desire and in Psalm 8:4 David asks the question “what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” When David considered the wonders of God’s creation he was amazed that God was mindful of us and wanted us. Today if you are feeling forgotten and unwanted I want to remind you that God is mindful of you:

You are His workmanship and you are wonderfully made Psalm 139:13-14 …For you created my inmost being…. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

You are deeply loved Jeremiah31:3 The LORD…says: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

You are chosen and wanted Isaiah 41:9 “…I have chosen you and have not rejected you.”

You are precious in God’s sight Isaiah 43:4 … you are precious and honored in my sight, and …I love you

You are the ‘apple’ of God’s eye Zechariah 2:8 …This is what the LORD Almighty says…whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye

You are God’s delight Psalm 150:4 The LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.

God is with you and you are His joy Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love.

Because God is mindful we are not forgotten and our song is not one of sorrow and sadness but security knowing that He cares for us.