A Song Of Hope Series

I’ve entitled our message for this morning “A Song of Hope.” The passage we’re going to see is often called the “Song of Mary.” In Mary’s words, we hear an expression of anticipation and joy in the coming fulfillment of her hope. So, what was Mary’s hope? Mary had the same hope as all the nation of Israel, the hope of a Savior who would provide His people with salvation from sin and redemption unto God. In Psalm 130:7 we read, “O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.” Israel’s hope for redemption was foretold as being brought about by a Messiah and Savior. Jeremiah 14:8 calls this coming Messiah “the Hope of Israel, his Savior in time of trouble.” Mary hoped in a Savior; and this morning, we’re going to see how she was finally able to confidently declare her hope aloud through song, and call Him “God my Savior” (v. 17).

Savior for the World (vv. 46-47)

46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”

Mary magnified the Lord and gave Him glory for the revelation she had just received through the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38). We see how she was thankful for “God my Savior.” When she mentioned the Lord as Savior she was referring to Jesus Christ, the One who would soon be born of her womb; and the One who would pierce her soul with conviction of her own need for salvation (Luke 2:35). Luke 2:11 says of Jesus, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The Bible proclaims that Jesus is Savior. Matthew tells us, “She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (1:21). The way in which Jesus is Savior, is that He saves people from sin and the accompanying consequences of sin.

Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Sin separates us from a relationship with God the Father. If you’re never reconciled unto God, and if you never establish a relationship with Him, then you will be separated from Him for all eternity; and eternal separation from God means you won’t go to heaven, but will instead go to that horrible place called hell. Spending an eternity in hell is known as spiritual death. Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” If you’re charged with the crime, you’re going to do the time. If you’re held responsible for your sins, then you will die. However, you do not have to die, for Romans 6:23 continues to tell us, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus, the Savior, is mentioned as being God in verse 47. The Bible reveals that He is God come down in human flesh. John 1:1 and 1:14 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Colossians 2:6 and 2:9-10 says, “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him . . . For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Because Jesus Christ is God, He has the power of God; and therefore, has the power to do something about our sin problem. So what can He do? Or rather, what did He do?

Jesus, being God, was righteous, holy, perfect and sinless. Paul said, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus, being sinless, became the perfect and spotless sacrifice to pay the price for our sin. He paid for our sin by taking our penalty, or our death, upon Himself by dying on the cross; and as He died on the cross the weight of the entire world’s sin - each and every human being, from the beginning of time to the end – it was all placed on His shoulders. As He bore all our sins, He became sin; He became sin for us. Why? So that those of us who receive His sacrifice can escape the punishment of sin, and become the righteousness of God and enter fellowship with Him, and live with Him forever in eternity.