After receiving the revelation she was pregnant with the son of God, Mary’s response wasn’t to rationalize, or to investigate plausibility. It was to rejoice and sing. Her emotive tune is found in Luke 1:46-55. It is a beautiful piece that analogously captures the hope of new life for a fallen and scattered Israel in a time of exile and subjugation to foreign empires, and the new life conceived by the Holy Spirit growing in Mary’s womb and giving her meaning and purpose amidst a most troubling present.
46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Looking at the text and piecing together the poetic couplets, verses 46 and 47 show that her soul and spirit magnify and rejoice in the Lord, who is her God and Savior. The impact of this revelation has ignited her spirituality and her attitude is now characterized by joy because the Lord is her God and Savior. The possessive pronoun is worth noting here, as she sees that this act of God in giving the Christ child, which we know is for all humanity, was also for her individually. God is her savior, he is saving her!
Remember, though Jesus has come for everyone, as God’s saving response to a world in need, he’s also come for you. Yes, you -- in your personal circumstance, whatever it may be. Remember this Christmas, he has come to you in your need, to be your Savior.
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Here, Mary reveals to us her current self-perception as a lowly servant. This isn’t a 21st century take on the phrase, meaning it could be considered a pious and, in turn, good attitude. In contrast, she saw herself as an insignificant person in history, someone unfavored, someone who would be forgotten over the course of generations, someone not counted worthy to be in the blessed covenant of Abraham.
However, she now knows that God sees her and has given her the kind of favor that transforms a person’s self-worth! The child she is carrying is evidence of her significance. She’s become optimistic about a future where her grandchildren will call her blessed! The term blessed is a significant one in the biblical text as it always points back to God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12. Mary is moved that God sees her; that she counts; that he is giving her legacy. The Mighty One has used his might to do something great for her! He is holy, because only our great God, the creator of heaven and earth, would so uniquely act to do something great for someone who wouldn’t have thought themselves worthy.
Remember this Christmas that you have inestimable worth, and God’s favor is upon you to become a historically significant person. The generations to come will appreciate your legacy as a result, for it is the Mighty One who is doing something great for you and in you.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
Verse 50 shows that God is merciful, particularly for those who respect him, who hold him in esteem, from every generation, every era and time in history. Verse 51 holds that the strength in his arm (a euphemism for how someone powerful displays dominance) was used to change mindsets and calloused hearts, not just massacre, as commonly done by kings and people of power through history. The imagery is that of a conflict between God and the proud, where the proud are scattered on the battlefield because God’s mercy has been extended to those perceived to be unworthy, or undeserving, and even the powerful are having to reconfigure their attitudes and empathy.
Remember this Christmas, that if we are proud, the revelation of God’s mercy towards those who revere him, even if they are seemingly unworthy or undeserving, should ignite in our hearts and minds, compassion.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
Verses 52 and 53, continue the imagery of God extending the strength of his arm by dethroning the powerful and lifting up the lowly. He does this by satisfying the hungry with good, and sending the rich away, showing them their money can’t buy this kind of good; they go away empty. This incredible, transformative act of God is unlike anything history had ever seen, and Mary can see it because she’s experiencing it! She has been lifted up. Because of what God has done through Jesus, she can finally be content.
Remember this Christmas that you can be satisfied, but money won’t buy it. The gift of contentment comes from an act of God himself. Let the Lord lift you up into the kind of contentment that’s likened to the hungry finally being filled with good things, completely satisfying.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
These final two verses of the song make explicit that the hope of Israel is wrapped up in the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham and his offspring - that as a result of his mercy, those who have faith in the righteous God (Gen. 15:6) will receive his salvation and be connected to his legacy, experiencing the very mission of God, becoming a blessing to the nations (Gen. 12:3-5).
Remember this Christmas that you’ve been invited to be a part of God’s mission. You are a part of his covenant people who have faith in his righteous effort to make his children a blessing to all the families of the earth. You can be a blessing to the nations! You can lift up those who are awaiting the salvation of God!
In this edition of the Global Voice, be blessed by the testimonies of those who have been lifted up by God their savior, and who have experienced the mission of God having worked through people like you, who in obedience have expressed his love in action. Merry Christmas and may the Lord bless and keep you this holiday season!
Love, Gregg
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