Luke 1:46-55
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.” (ESV)
Introduction:
Mary’s Magnificat is a hymn of praise that resounds with the eternal echoes of God’s Grace. Mary’s soul magnifies the Lord and her spirit rejoices in the profound reality of God becoming flesh, dwelling among us as the promised Saviour – God becoming man because men wanted to be God.
God’s Grace in the Gift of Christ is:
- Personal
a) It Redeems the Helpless (vv 46, 47) – He saves us from the penalty of sin through Justification, from the power of sin through Sanctification and from the very presence of sin through Glorification. See also Ps. 103:4; Luke 1:68.
b) It Raises the Humble (v 48) – the opposite of being proudful, whom God resists (Ps. 138:6; Mat. 23:12).
c) It Restores the Hopeless (v 49) – also see Jer. 29:11; Rom. 15:13. - Powerful
a) Its Presence (v 50a) – “And His Mercy is real and available”. See Ps. 23:6.
b) Its Proviso (v 50b, stipulated condition) – “for those who fear Him from generation to generation”. We are called upon to fear God, which is why the liturgy, and the means of grace are so important. We need to return teaching our children the fear of God.
Also see Prov. 1:7; Acts 10:34-35.
c) Its Power (v 51) – it frees us (see Ps. 89:13-14; 1 Cor. 1:24). - Promised
a) He Helps His servant Israel (v 54a) – also Is. 41:10; Luke 2:29-32.
b) He Remembers His Mercy (v 54b) – also Ps. 98:3.
c) He Keeps His Word (v 55) – when God says He is going to do something, He does it! See Num. 23:19; Gal. 3:29.
As we reflect on Mary’s Magnificat, let us be profoundly stirred by the enduring truth that God’s Grace in the Gift of Christ remains as relevant today as it was in the hallowed moments when Mary uttered these words.