Mary's Magnificat

Luke 1:46-56 ESV

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Rev. David Skinner

Mary hears that her old aunt is pregnant. They are together in miraculous pregnancy. This is a tumultuous time. Mary is a virgin. She's pledged to be married. And then along comes an angel, who says she is pregnant. Rumors and gossip are starting to circulate in her town. Joseph is planning to quietly divorce her, otherwise she might be killed. What is the first thing she heard upon coming to visit her aunt, Elizabeth? Blessed. There are many troubling things, but she is favored by God. God is here and in our lives. Jesus is not just a baby in a manger. Jesus is in the world, permeated throughout every aspect of our lives. But we don't see it, we often live as functional atheists. But God is there in our everyday lives.

Mary is greeted by the angel... And there is no freaking out on her part. There are plenty of people who freak out when an angel appears throughout scripture. But she is calm, she's more troubled by what the angel says then the appearance of an angel. The angel tells her that she's pregnant. She takes the angel at his word. She believes that she was pregnant and then says how she could be pregnant, being a virgin? She's wondering if this angel knows how pregnancy works... Just a conversation with an angel. Nothing amiss here. The angel replies, the holy spirit will be the father of her babe. Mary says, okay.

Mary applies the scripture in her life. She sees God in the everyday. Her song includes words from various parts of the bible. Her reaction to the angel is the reaction of one who assumes the world has angels and a God who intervenes. On earth as it is in heaven so to speak...

When she sings of God, she exalts in God. One who gives mercy and raises the lowly. She is familiar with how God works. This is just like God to do something like this. She is a simple young girl from a small town. And God comes to save the world through her.

Do you fear God? God can give us wrath and death beyond imagination. He can destroy both body and soul. He gives grace to the humble and fearful. God humbles the proud. He lifts up the humble. Repent of our self glorification. The instagrams. The pictures of food. Stop trying to make our mark on the world. God is against such people.

God feeds the hungry. He offers food, true food and pure living water. Not food that does not satisfy. Mary lives in a world where God provides for those who are his. Where angels are normal. And babies can come from virgins, if God wills it.

God gives his perfect son through a virgin. To die upon a cross so that we who are lacking will have enough; those who are afraid will be given courage; those who don't live god fearing lives, will have help. So that sinners will have a great help.