Mary's Song

Introduction

Mary heard amazing words from the angel Gabriel that she would become pregnant and give birth to the Son of the Most High, and that she would call his name Jesus. And to Mary, who answered that since she was a virgin, the angel Gabriel said that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, and she would give birth to the Son of God. And the angel Gabriel informed her that Mary's relative Elizabeth, who was said to be barren, was also going to have a child in her old age, and was in her six month.

Mary, hearing the words of the angel, answered: “I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said.” (v. 38). And then the angel left her, Mary got ready and hurried to enter Zechariah's home, which is in a town in the hill country of Judea, a hundred miles from Nazareth in Galilee, and she greeted Elizabeth. Although she had a long way to go, Mary must have wanted to confirm the wonderful truth the angel had told her and shake off all her doubts and insecurities that she might have harbored. When Mary heard the praise of Elizabeth's blessing, all her fears disappeared from her heart, and she was so moved by the grace that God had bestowed upon her that she praised God.

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I. Why Mary praises (vv. 46~47)

How did Mary praise? Look at verses 46 and 47. “And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.’” Mary praised the Lord with her soul. The soul refers to the most precious and noble part of a person. And the Greek word for ‘glorify’ is ‘megaruno’, and in English it is magnify. The Latin word is magnificat, which became the title of Mary's song. The meaning of Magnify is ‘to express or to praise at a mega level.’ So Mary praised the Lord very loudly from the depths of her soul. Her praise wasn't just lip service. Mary's soul was so overwhelmed by God's grace, and her heart rejoiced in God her Savior. The God whom Mary called ‘God my Savior’ is not God the Father. It refers to the Son Jesus, who is God in Mary’s womb. The reason why Mary was able to express such incredible expressions was because Elizabeth praised, “But why am I favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (v. 43). Mary received these words and, in response, sang, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

Mary was overflowing with joy at conceiving the Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High. Think about it. The Savior, who is God, was now in Mary's womb as a tiny fetus. How mysterious was it? How could Mary have dared to imagine that God was present as a child in her own womb? Mary was filled with great emotion and told why her soul loudly praised the Lord and rejoiced in the Savior Jesus in her womb. Look at the beginning of verse 48. “For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” Mary was thankful that God looked at such a humble woman and gave her the grace to conceive the Son of God.

Mary knew very well that she was only a lowly servant girl. In fact, she was a virgin living in a rural village called Nazareth in Galilee that people did not know much about, and Joseph, who was betrothed to her, was nothing more than a carpenter in the rural village. However, Mary became the mother of Jesus, the Messiah. She knew that it was only by the grace of God that she had become what she was. So, Mary praised God and rejoiced over the Savior she had conceived. Dear believers! We too must believe that everything is the grace of God, praise the Holy Trinity, and rejoice in God alone.

Not only that. Look at the end of verse 48. Mary continued singing, “From now on all generations will call me blessed.” This is what Mary said while looking at the amazing salvation that will come to this world through the coming of Christ. Now Mary was a virgin, betrothed, even before her wedding. But her virginity conceived a child, and she was in danger of being criticized by everyone. She was bound to be a sinner who betrayed grace to her parents and to Joseph, her betrothed. However, Mary sang this as a true blessing because she knew how great the result of salvation would be in the future through her own sacrifice.

II. The great things Christ will do (vv. 49~53)

Mary praised the great things that Christ the Savior would do in the future. Look at verse 49. “For the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name.” Mary knew very well what great things God had done for her. Mary's pregnancy was the coming of the Holy God and Sinless Savior into this world. Why did the Holy Savior come to this world? Christ's job was to eliminate all injustice and evil in this world and to bless the Lord's people.