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.
Blessing to All People (vv. 48-49)
48 “For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.”
We read that all generations will call Mary blessed, meaning she will be remembered throughout all generations and never be forgotten. When people recall Mary, they’ll reflect upon the reason why she was considered blessed. They will remember the revelation concerning her son being the Christ and Savior. Just as Mary was blessed, so is everyone who has knowledge of the Savior. So, how is knowledge of the Savior a blessing? Well, all people who have that knowledge now have a choice to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. This morning, I’m sharing with you from the Scripture that Jesus is the one who can and will save you from your sins. Now that you have that knowledge, you can choose to invite Him into your heart. So, how will you respond?
This Good News is not something only for the rich and well-to-do. The Lord did not send His message to the aristocrats first; though they too can believe in Jesus if they so choose. Look at the first part of verse 48, and you’ll notice that God sent His Good News first to the lowly. Mary called herself a lowly maidservant. In Luke chapter 2, you can see how God also delivered the message to some lowly shepherds, who were actually the outcasts of society. This Good News is for the poor and for the rich; it is for everyone! If you are like Mary this morning, and you can declare, “He who is mighty has done great things for me,” can I hear you say Amen? If you can’t say Amen to that, then you need to think about why. Do you know Him? If not, then you need to!
Mercy for Generations (v. 50)
50 “And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.”
The first thing we read here is “His mercy is on those who fear Him.” First of all, the mercy being spoken of here is His gift of salvation. In Ephesians 2:4-5 we read, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” It is God’s mercy that draws us unto Him and leads us to confess our sins and ask forgiveness, better known as repentance. Romans 2:4 says, “The goodness of God leads you to repentance.” The mercy and kindness of our God leads us to seeking out His forgiveness through Jesus Christ, knowing that He forgives us when we ask it (1 John 1:9), and that He withholds condemnation and judgment. Instead of judgment, He offers His grace and mercy.
God’s mercy is on those who “FEAR HIM.” To fear Him means to believe in the Lord. In the Old Testament a belief in God was called “the fear of the Lord” (Psalm 111:10). If you’ll believe in the Lord then He will show you His mercy. Romans 10:9-10 speaks about the correlation between belief and salvation. We read, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Fear Him, or believe in Him this morning, and then confess your belief this very day, and you will receive the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
We also read that His mercy is “from generation to generation.” I said earlier that when Jesus died on the cross, He bore the weight of the world’s sin even unto this day and time. His sacrifice on the cross, and the forgiveness of sin that was gained through His selfless act, is available to anyone of any generation, until this world passes away. I will say it again, that salvation is available to anyone at any time. If you’ve heard the Good News this morning then today is the time. Paul said, “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). God’s mercy is available to you this very hour; even this very minute! Now, let’s skip on down to verses 54-55.
Fulfillment of His Promise (vv. 54-55)
54 “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, 55 as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.”
The news Mary received was the fulfillment of a promise that God made long ago. She said that God helped Israel in “remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our Fathers.” God remembered what He had told Mary’s forefathers, including Abraham; and He came through. The Lord had told Abraham, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). The way in which Abraham’s offspring would become a blessing, is that the Lord would bring the Messiah and Savior into the world through his descendants. Matthew 1:1 names the Savior as “Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” God held true to His word that He would provide a deliverer and Savior, and God still keeps His word even unto this day.
How many of you can say of God that He is faithful? Amen? 1 Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Have you experienced His faithfulness? Do you know the forgiveness of sins through a relationship with Jesus Christ? If not, then I wish to invite you to know Him today. The Lord proved Himself to be “God my Savior” unto Mary, and He can be your Savior as well!
Time of Reflection
Robbie Seay wrote a song entitled “Song of Hope,” and here’s a sample of some of the lyrics. He said, “All things new; I can start again. Creator, God, calling me Your friend. Sing praise, my soul, to the Maker of the skies; a song will rise . . . I will sing a song of hope, sing along, God of heaven come down . . . Just to know You and be loved is enough, God of heaven come down.”(1) In this song, the writer expressed the hope of salvation, the hope of forgiveness, the hope of a newness of life, and the hope of spending all eternity with God.
If you are someone here this morning who’s feeling the weight of your sin; then let me ask you, “Are the words in Robbie Seay’s song the cry of your heart?” “All things new; I can start again . . . God of heaven come down.” God of heaven, come and save me! The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). If you will confess Jesus as Savior and Lord this morning, then you will be forgiven of your sins and become a new creation.
NOTES
(1) Taken from the Internet in November 2009 at http://www.lyricstime.com/robbie-seay-band-song-of-hope-lyrics.html
