The Book of Luke: The Magnificat of Mary (Luke 1:39-56)
We are continuing our series in Luke 1. Look at verse 39 “39 And Mary arose in those days,…”. “Those days” are in reference to the 6th month that was mentioned earlier with Elizabeth. Luke 1:39 “39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.”. Of course Elisabeth also had a miraculous birth. It was not a virgin birth but she was past the age of normal child bearing so it was miraculous in that sense.
Verse 41 “41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:”. Verse 42 “42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”. The word “whence” means from what source. Verse 44 “44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed:….”. Remember that Zacharias did not believe when he heard that his wife would have a child but Mary did believe when she was told about the virgin birth. “45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”.
I want to give you a couple of introductory thoughts before we jump into the main part of today’s sermon. It’s interesting to me that Mary would visit Elisabeth. Mary is contractually married but has not yet consummated her marriage. She is told that she will have a baby. Mary takes it very well as she must realize that some people will not believe her and accuse her of fornication.
If anyone could understand what Mary is going through then Elisabeth would understand since she also had a miraculous birth. Often times when people go through difficult and stressful times, they detach from everyone. Mary is wise and she goes to Elisabeth for guidance. Instead of doing what the average person would do which is detach, she does the opposite. She goes to Elisabeth to talk about the situation. Mary understood that she needed a friend. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 27:17 “17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”. We see the wisdom of this young lady.
Not only do we see the need for friendship but we see the sanctity of human life. The Bible tells us that John the Baptist leaped for joy when he heard the news inside of the news. It’s hard for us to fully comprehend how he was filled with the Holy Ghost inside of the woman but we see that he is alive. I want you to realize that life begins at conception. The Bible says in Jeremiah 1 “5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”. When we are talking about the sanctity of human life, we are saying that abortion is murder. God has a purpose and plan for every child inside of the womb. We see the sanctity of human life.
We see the wisdom of Mary and the sanctity of human life. However, what I want to focus on is found starting at verse 46. “46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,”. What we are going to look at in the rest of this sermon is Mary speaking to God about God and what God is doing in her life. This is known as a prayer and as a worship song. Theologians call this the “Magnificat of Mary”. I’d like to give you 3 thoughts on Mary’s Magnificat.
Point 1 – Mary understood the position of God. Mary has a very high view of God. In verse 46 she says “46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,”. The word “magnify” means to make something appear large. This is not the only place where the Bible uses this wording. Look at Philippians 1:20 “20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”. Mary had a very high view of God just like Paul also had a high view of God. They also had a desire for others to have a high view of God.
Mary understood the position of God. If we will understand the position of God then we need to have a high view of God. If I could teach people or insert 1 thing into your mind and heart then it would be that you develop a high view of God. What do I mean by that? I believe that most Christians not only do not have a high view of God but have almost no view of God. At a Church like ours, many people show up because of our doctrine. There is nothing wrong with that. It’s good to go to a Church with the right doctrine. However, I understand that people come to a Church like ours because of the beliefs we have and I am glad for all of that and the correct doctrines. My fear though is that some people don’t go to Church because they have a high view of God. God is not something that is constant in their mind and heart and go about their days. Often they don’t think about God. Mary had a high view of God. The Bible teaches us to have a high view of God.
Isaiah 6:1 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.”. Isaiah said that he got a look at God and he saw him high and lifted up. Let me tell you something. God is not “The man upstairs.”. Have some reverence for God. Isaiah 6:2 “2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.”. When Isaiah got a view of God, he saw God high and lifted up. He understood that God was high and holy and powerful and lifted up.
Let me ask you this question. What does your soul magnify? Jesus said that they will see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. This is why we have Churches in today’s world where you walk in and it is like a night club. It’s like a rock concert. People think we are too stuck up by being old fashioned and fundamental. It’s called having a high view of God. This is why I don’t get up here and preach with flip flops. I have a high view of God. I wouldn’t go to an important meeting with someone casually and neither will I when I am up here on behalf of God.
Why does it matter? Here is why it matters. Because the right view of God will produce the right view of self. A high view of God will produce a humble view of self. Notice what it says in Luke 1:47 “47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”. Notice how she says the “low estate of his handmaiden”. By the way, she said that henceforth all generations shall call her blessed and didn’t say that she would bless people. She had a humble view of self. A high view of God will always produce a humble view of self.
I want you to notice that the proper view of God from Isaiah resulted in a humble view of self in Isaiah. Isaiah 6:5 “5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”. You can’t get a right view of God without getting a right view of self. Many of us this morning need to eat some humble pie. The reason why you think so highly of yourself is because you aren’t thinking highly enough about God.
In Ezekiel 1 we have the same thing. The prophet Ezekiel gets a high view of God. Ezekiel 1:28 “28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord….”. Notice how he has a high view of God. Let us see the result. “…And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.”. It results in a humble view of self.
Let me show you 1 more example. Go to John 3. We are talking about the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. Mary has a high view of God which results in a low view of herself. It’s interesting because the babe in the womb of Elisabeth became a great Preacher. He would point toward the Messiah who would come. As a result of this, all of these crowds going to John the Baptist were directed toward Jesus. The Pharisees start to mock and ask him what he thinks about people leaving to listen to Jesus. Listen to what John the Baptist says in John 3:30 “30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”.
See, in my life and in your life, our attitude should be the same as John the Baptist. Let us decrease in order for God to increase. Should we do what we want or what God wants us? The proper response is “He must increase but I must decrease.”.
Mary had a high view of God and a humble view of self. She illustrates that more in Luke 1:47 “47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”. Mary didn’t say that she was the Saviour but that she rejoices in God who is her Saviour. Every Catholic seems to have missed that. The reason we need to have a Saviour is because we are sinners. Mary was also a sinner. The Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the Mediatrix but that is not what Mary said. Mary understood that she wasn’t a Saviour but she rejoiced in God her Saviour. Mary was a godly and wonderful lady. However, she was no deity and she worshipped the Lord. She had a low view of herself.
Why does this thing about having a high view of God matter? A high view of God will produce a humble view of self. Why do we need that? Every problem we have in life is as a result of our pride. Every problem in your marriage and at work and with fellow Church members and with the Pastor and with the Pastor’s wife – It’s pride. In fact, if we go back to the beginning when Satan fell, when he fell, when he sinned and tempted Eve, what was that a result of? Pride. Isaiah 14:13 “13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”. 5 times Satan says “I will”. This is pride.
Everything is easier with humility. You will have a happier marriage, better time raising children, you will get along better with the people around you. Everything gets easier when you aren’t full of yourself. However, you are full of yourself because you don’t have the right view of God. Proverbs 13:10 “10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”. If you are fighting with your spouse, your boss, your fellow Church members, it’s because of pride. If you are always angry it is because you are filled with pride. You need what we all need. You need a high view of God. The result is a humble view of self. Then in love we can prefer one another. We realize that the only one who should get glory and credit is God. Mary understood the position of God.
I want you to notice secondly this morning that Mary understood the power of God. Look at Luke 1:51. “51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.”. Notice the theme on humble. Mary not only understood the position of God but also the power of God. She understood that God had the power to lift up people or bring them down.
Mary understood that God resists the proud and exalts the humble. If you want God to be against you then allow pride in your life. The reason why people refuse to submit is pride. Notice 1st Peter 5:5 “5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”. Then in verse 6 he says “6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”. See, we need to understand the position of God and the power of God. This is why Paul said that he gloried in the cross as opposed to glorying in himself.
A few weeks ago I was preaching in Vancouver. Someone walked up to me and told me that they needed to tell me a story. They mentioned that there was a large Russian family at Church for the service. They said that one of the Church members had a service call for something at their house and was listening to me preach. The person doing the job stopped and said “Are you listening to Pastor Jimenez?”. They visited Church afterward as a result. God is using our ministry in a mighty way. I want you to understand something though. I believe 1 reason God has used this ministry in the way he has is because that God takes pleasure in showing himself strong through weakness.
Notice 1st Corinthians 1:26. “26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:”. I don’t believe that Paul is referring to the fact that he only uses foolish people and low degree in society. I believe that Paul is stating that he doesn’t use people when they think they are wise. God can’t use you if you have too high of a view of yourself. 1st Corinthians 1:27 “27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:”. Why would God do that? “29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.”. We are a Church that are meeting by a Drug clinic. You look at me and there is nothing on the outside impressive about myself. However, God takes pleasure in using the weak.
This is why Paul stated “9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 “11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”. Did you know that God is no respecter of persons. Mary understood the position of God and the power of God. She also understood that God takes pleasure in the weak. God used a little lady in a location that no one knew to bring forth the Savior. In fact, later on in the public ministry of Jesus, it’s said “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth”. We need to realize that nothing is too hard for the Lord.
Can I share something with you? As the Lord has allowed our Church to be blessed by God and I’ve been allowed to preach at various locations, everyone wants to tell me about California. People have told me “I would have moved to Verity but it’s in California.”. I laugh but to be honest with you I started to believe it. I started to doubt whether or not we could accomplish the things that we are trying to do. I started to wonder if the soulwinning and hard preaching would work in California. Here is the truth though. It’s not about the location. God takes pleasure in shining the light in a place of darkness. God is just as much God here as in other places.
I want you to realize that Mary also understood the providence of God. The word “providence” means the protective nature of God. Luke 1:53 “53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;”. Let me say that during the Christmas season, we should remember that God is the great provider. Don’t have the attitude found in Deuteronomy 8:17 “17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.”. I hope you have nice things but remember that it is not in your power that you have accomplished these things. It’s from the providence of God. Deuteronomy 8:18 “18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”. Listen mom and dad. Don’t tell your kids that Santa Clause brought them something. Teach them that every good gift comes down from God. We give gifts to remember that God has provided for us.
Luke 1:55-56 “55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.”. This tells us that Mary stayed until the birth of John the Baptist or at least until around that time. You may or may not notice that Mary is quoting from a lot of other places in the Bible. This means that Mary not only read the Bible but paid attention to sermons and memorized scripture.
Let me give you some proof of this.
Luke 1:46 “46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,”.
This is a reference from Psalm 34:2 “2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.”.
Luke 1:47 “47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”.
This is a reference from Isaiah 45:21 “…a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.”.
Luke 1:48 “48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:…”.
This is probably taken from Hannah’s prayer where God opened her womb and said in 1st Samuel 1:11 “…but wilt give unto thine handmaid…”.
Luke 1:48 “…shall call me blessed.”.
This is probably a reference from Genesis 30:13 “13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed:…”.
Luke 1:49 “49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;…”.
This is probably a reference from Psalm 126:3 “3 The Lord hath done great things for us; …”.
Luke 1:49 “…and holy is his name.”.
This is probably a reference from Psalm 111:9 “…holy and reverend is his name.”.
I point that out to you to say that Mary is a young lady who is under a lot of pressure and stress. She is contractually married but has not yet consummated the marriage. She is now being told that she is with child. I’m sure she doesn’t know what her family or Joseph or the neighbors will say about it. What will the community say about it. I think of a tube of toothpaste. When you squeeze it and add pressure, what is inside comes out. What we see with Mary is that when she was pressed and stressed, what was in her came out.
By the way, it works the same way with you. Here is the question for you. What is inside of you? When Mary was stressed, what came out was the word of God. When you are under pressure and start cussing, the pressure just brought out what was already there. It was already inside of you. Luke 6:45 “45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”. What this tells us about Mary is that she had the word of God in her heart. When you are under pressure and stress, what comes out? This is why the Bible tells us to let the word of Christ to dwell in us. It’s easy to be nice when everything is fine. When you are a jerk under stress that is because that is what you really are. The stress is revealing the inside.
What do we do about that? We change it. Instead of letting the world dwell in you, let the word of God dwell in you. All I’m saying is that we saw a young lady under a lot of stress but what comes out is a love for God and the word of God. We see Job under a lot of stress when his children die and he loses his money and he says “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”. Why did that come out? Because that is what was on the inside. Let the word of Christ dwell in you.
Let’s pray.