The Song of Mary
Luke 1:46-55
What is so special about Mary? Should she be an object of our worship because she was chosen to be the mother of our Lord? Should she be looked upon as a mediator (go between) when we pray? There is not an ounce of scripture that instructs us to do so. In fact the scripture tells us, “There is but one mediator between God and man, and that is the man Christ Jesus.”
If Mary is not a special mediator or object to be worshipped then why does Luke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit choose to put focus on Mary in our text?
The answer to all these questions lies not in the greatness of Mary, but in the greatness of Christ and her attitude toward Him. Herein is the key to understanding what our attitude should be toward Mary.
The Angel came to Mary and brought the announcement in verse 28,
“…Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women…And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.”
Keep in mind that Mary was no more immaculate than you and I. We have often heard of the Immaculate Conception. The common understanding of the Catholic Church is that Mary had to be sinless in order to have a sinless Savior. The teaching is that when Mary was born she was free from original sin. It is true that she was morally pure in that she had never been with another man. But she was not with out sin. This notion is merely a contrivance of man’s philosophical thinking and not a theologically correct teaching in scripture.
Mary did not have to be immaculate to carry the Christ child because the Bible said that which was conceived in her was of the Holy Ghost. In other words, when Christ was placed in the womb of Mary It was not a mixture of God’s genes with human genes. It was wholly a divine conception. If the genes of Mary mingled with the genes of Jesus, then Jesus could not have been the sinless Son of God because Mary was from the generation of Adam just like you and I!
Notice verse 47. If there be any proof in the scriptures that would clear any doubt as to the statement of Mary being sinless this verse should settle all doubts. “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God MY SAVIOR.”
Only one who knew she was a sinner could recognize Jesus as her savior.
My friends you cannot claim Christ as your savior until you recognize in humility first that you are sinner. The Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. We were helpless to save ourselves.
Yet we dare not cast a bad light upon Mary. This is not what the writer intended. Rather Luke intended for us to see Mary’s attitude toward the birth of Christ as an example to us as believers. As we look at the godly characteristics of Mary this morning, let us be reminded as believers in Christ that we too can be used of God and blessed by God in a great and mighty way.
I. MARY’S HUMILITY
She accepted God’s will. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word.”
There is no evidence of Mary thinking that she was any different than anyone else. She realized that above all women she was fortunate to be the one to bear the Christ child. We do not understand all the reason why Mary, above all women, was chosen to carry the savior, but it could have been because of her humility and humbleness and submissiveness before God.
Again, Mary said, “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my savior.”
Mary was just a sinner saved by grace. In humility she recognized Jesus as her savior. So must you and I if we are to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Notice verse 48, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”
Literally he has looked upon the low or humble condition of his handmaid. In spite of her rank and poverty, he has shown her favor.
This is proof that God is no respecter of persons. He is looking for a humble vessel that he can use for his glory. It is wonderful that God can take nobody’s and make some body’s out of them. God is not looking for wealth, rank or honor. He is looking for a lowly servant who is willing to be used for his glory.
On one occasion an orchestra presented Handel’s “Messiah” so beautifully that the applause was thunderous, and everyone turned toward the composer. Handel stood up and with his finger pointing upward, silently indicated that the glory should be given to God rather than to himself. That is exactly what the virgin Mary did as she talked to Elizabeth. It is as if she were saying, “Don’t praise me, but magnify the Lord who is my Savior.”
II. MARY’S HOPE
Mary put her hope in the promises of God. Mary undoubtedly knew the scripture. She recalled from scripture what God had done in past generations.
Notice verse 55, “As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.” Mary knew the promise that was made to Abraham that the generations from Abraham would be blessed as the sands of the sea forever and ever. She knew that God would fulfill his promise.
She rejoiced that she was chosen to bear the Messiah that was prophesied so long ago.
Notice her words, “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.” Mary knew the magnitude of what was happening because she was familiar with the promises of God.
Verses 50-55 are spoken out of great hope for a future fulfillment of prophecy. The coming of Jesus would fulfill that hope.
The coming of Jesus brought great hope to the world…but there is a hope yet to be fulfilled…the Second Coming of our Messiah to rapture his church! One day Jesus will come and put down all the wickedness in the world and show strength with his mighty arm by putting down Satan and his armies at the battle of Armageddon.
He will have mercy on them that fear him and serve him. The rapture of the church is the next event on God’s calendar. For the Christian this event gives us great promise and hope. For the unsaved it gives a prophecy of gloom and doom.
One of the greatest gifts of Christmas is hope and promise of a bright tomorrow. Do you know the Christ of Christmas personally or is he just a figure of Christmas like Santa Clause? He is a real and living Christ. His birth in Bethlehem’s manger gives great hope. There is no hope outside of this life except in Christ.
At the death of his son Willie, Lincoln was convulsed in sorrow. In an effort to console him, Dr. Francis Vinton said, “Your boy is alive in heaven!” “Alive! Surely you mock me!” “No”, said the minister. “It is accepted by many as a most comforting doctrine of the church and founded upon the words of Christ himself.” For a moment the President repeated in credulously, “Alive! Alive!” Then his sorrow went away.
“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces” (Is. 25:8). The “Sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (35:10)
The hope that Mary received from the announcement of Gabriel still brings hope to the world today,
“And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Again in Luke 2:10 the angel said,
“Fear not; for, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
Christ has come to give the world hope. If you do not have the assurance of eternal life, there is great hope for your future in coming to Jesus Christ!
