December is here, and with that comes the singing of some of our favorite Christmas carols. One of the best Christmas hymns of all time was sung by Mary, the mother of our Lord. Historically it has been referred to as Mary’s Magnificat [song of praise].
This song, recorded in Luke 1:46-55, is a marvelous expression of praise. It teaches us a vital lesson:
The humble heart
responds to God’s greatness
in exultant worship.
Mary’s song consists of four stanzas. There is a logical flow which makes them easy to remember.
In the first stanza, Mary expresses her personal gratitude to God, rejoicing in all that he has done for her.
In the second stanza, Mary’s spiritual perspective widens as she considers that God’s “mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.”
In the third stanza, God’s mercy becomes all the more apparent when seen in contrast to his judgment on those who do not fear him.
In the fourth stanza as Mary affirms that God’s mercy is the fulfillment of his promise to his people throughout history.
As we survey this beautiful song over the next four days (one stanza per day), may the Holy Spirit stoke the embers of our hearts until we are white-hot with worship.
Stanza One:
Personal Gratitude
And Mary said,
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
- Luke 1:46-48
Mary’s song is intensely personal. “My soul…my spirit…my Savior.” Jesus stated, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). The essence of worship is not the externals — such as a state-of-the-art sound system, a large choir, or an impressive band or orchestra — but the heart and head. “Spirit and truth.” The words of Mary’s mouth expressed the truth that had taken hold of her heart.
Although Mary’s song was intensely personal, it was not self-focused. Instead, Mary made much of God. “My soul magnifies the Lord.” In the Latin version of Mary’s song, the word “magnifies” [magnificat] appears first, which is why this song came to be called the Magnificat. The word magnify means “to make large.” Of course we don’t make God large. He is infinite by his very nature — beyond all human measurement or calculation!
We don’t make God large in terms of his person, but we do make him large in terms of our perception. Sadly, our tendency is to magnify people and make too little of God.
Our tendency is
to magnify people
and make too little of God.
Consider what the Roman Catholic Church has done to Mary. They teach that Mary was conceived immaculate and was therefore sinless. But Mary herself said, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary herself recognized that she was a sinner in need of the Savior. An angel declared to Joseph, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
Mary goes on to say in Luke 1:48, “He has looked on the humble estate of his servant.” The verb “looked on” means to notice. Mary was amazed that God took any notice of her at all. Mary’s ancestor David said something similar in Psalm 8:
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. … When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Both David and Mary were blown away by the fact that God would even notice them, let alone care for them.
Are you blown away by that thought? Mary knew that she was a sinner who did not deserve God’s favor. That is why she rejoiced so greatly when she received it.
In fact, Mary concludes verse 48 by saying, “For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” The word “behold” is a signal word. It is meant to grab people’s attention. Mary says, in essence, “Look! What God has done for me will never be forgotten!” Mary makes it clear that she is not the blesser, but the one being blessed.
We have good reason to admire Mary, but we have no cause to worship her. Mary’s soul magnified the Lord, and so should we. Her spirit rejoiced greatly in God her Savior, and so should ours. God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), the Fount of every blessing. The most wonderful gift of all is Jesus.
When it comes to personal gratitude, Mary is a good model for us. May we pray, as George Herbert did,
Thou that hast given
so much to me,
Give one thing more:
A grateful heart.