The Virgins Joy
Luke 1:26-56
During the Christmas season how, why, when, where and to whom we express our joy can cover a lot of territory. It really depends on what kind of joy we are expressing and what has motivated the outpouring of our joy.
We might be really joyful to discover that we have not exceeded our credit limit on our bank account or on our credit cards.
We might be truly joyful to learn that our in-laws insist on staying in a motel during the family visit.
We might be totally joyful to discover that our spouse finally gifted something to us that actually fits and is the kind of thing we can wear without embarrassment.
We might be joyful to sit together as a family and enjoy a festive meal without one negative word or comment about those who are absent from the table.
Yes there are a lot of reasons for joy at Christmas and a lot of things that motivate joy within us during this time of year.
Today we want to look at Mary the young virgin chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. There is in our bibles a beautiful prayer that comes pouring out of her mind and heart and finally makes it way to her mouth in song and is recorded for all of us to read, study and meditate on.
It is referred to as The Magnificat or Song of Mary.
It is great that at this time of year we can stop and study Mary’s Song so that we can discover how joy affected her life and spilled over into the life of the church and each one of us.
Most of us know the story of Mary. But do we understand her joy?
She tells us that her soul glorifies the Lord in Luke 1:46.
Wait a minute lets back up and examine her situation.
She is a young woman who is engaged to marry a man from a good family.
She is presently living with her parents in Nazareth.
She is told she will become pregnant by The Holy Spirit and that the child will be a son.
She is told he will be great and be known as the son of the Most High who is to be called Jesus.
She says she has learned all this from an angel of God and that her son Jesus will take the throne of King David and that his kingdom will know no end.
She says that the angel also mentioned that her much older cousin Elizabeth who is known to be barren is now in her sixth month of pregnancy.
Her response to all this is found in Luke 1:38. I am the Lords servant.
From: Pg.2119. Notes - Luke 1:38 Zondervan - Life Application Study Bible, New International Version, Copyright 1988,1989,1990,1991 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, IL 60189
A young unmarried girl who became pregnant risked disaster. Unless the father of the child agreed to marry her, she would probably remain unmarried for life. If her own father rejected her, she could be forced into begging or prostitution in order to earn a living. And Mary with her story about being made pregnant by the Holy Spirit, risked being considered crazy as well. Still Mary said, despite the possible risks, May it be to me as you have said. When Mary said that, she didn’t know about the tremendous opportunity she would have. She only knew that God was asking her to serve Him, and she willingly obeyed. End Quote.
What a lot to take on as a young woman. To be willing to become the vessel that would bring to the world a Messiah that would save the world from its sins. If you ever wondered if God sees woman as important or vital to His divine plan for human kind then let Mary’s story sink in.
Mary is human not divine she is flesh and blood and like the rest of us she needs to see her faith evidenced in things hoped for. She sets out to visit her Cousin Elizabeth’s home. This is the same Elizabeth who is old and barren and past child baring years. This is the Elizabeth the angel was talking about.
Elizabeth is greeted by Mary and the child in Elizabeth’s womb jumps for joy at hearing Mary’s voice. Now it is Mary whose heart and mind jump for joy and spilling out of her mouth is Mary’s Song of Joy.
It is now that Mary is fully proved that she is not crazy that she has not been unfaithful to Joseph that the words of the angel Gabriel are in fact true and can be believed. Elizabeth the woman past child bearing years is very obviously with child just as the angel said she would be.
God has not disgraced Mary he has blessed her in a unique way apart from all other women for she now knows without a doubt that she will give birth to a son the Son of the Most High just as she was told.
So what was the source of Mary’s joy?
Was it that she would avoid disgracing her family? No. People will still talk.
Was it that she would be proved faithful and chaste to Joseph her fiance? No. Joseph will believe her but once again how does she explain a miracle to the satisfaction of others?
Was it that she would be proved sane? No. Her story involves angels and miracles that some might say are a convenient way to explain her circumstances.
The source of Mary’s joy was the knowledge that she would bare all these things in order to fulfill Gods words to her. Her joy was in knowing that Gods promises are real and tangible and trustworthy. Her joy was in being the Lords handmaid. She was willing to do whatever it took for God to accomplish His plans for the world by using her life in whatever way He wanted.
Her joy was evidenced by the child in Elizabeth’s womb. The unborn child was proof that the angel spoke the words of God. For Elizabeth to be pregnant was a miracle of God and for Mary to be pregnant was a miracle of God of another magnitude.
Friends, this is where we find our joy everyday not just at Christmas. We find our joy in trusting God at His word and in trusting God to intervene in our lives when He wants and with whatever He wants so that He might be glorified. As strange as it might sound God may even use a miracle to intervene in your life.
Is God evidencing the miracle of Jesus in your life?
Do you have family or friends who are disgraced by the fact that you are a Christian?
Do you suffer humiliation and ridicule from the world for what you believe about Gods word?
Has God asked you to be someone that the world will reject and scorn?
Do you see Gods plans for your life through His words?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions then you like Mary can sing the words of her song. You too can jump for joy for Jesus is living in you just as He was made alive in Mary’s life. Mary held Jesus in her womb and considered that a wonderful blessing which is immeasurable.
You can hold Jesus in your heart, mind and life and by doing so you can know the kind of joy that Mary sang about. The miracle in your life is the same miracle that was present in Mary’s life. That miracle is Jesus. He wants to bring joy into your life. Are you willing?
Let us pray.
