Mary's Song

The Magnificat Luke 1:46-55 Summer Hill Church 16 December 2018 1. Why Mary? i. we get used to the Christmas story, most of us know the story of the virgin birth, (1) and we get used to the very sanctimonious ways of picturing it, and we don’t ask the hard questions. (a) I think the picture we get used to is this sort of thing (i) PICTURE 1 (b) and it’s all a bit vanilla, Joseph thoughtful, Mary open and calm (c) as you would expect of a couple of saints. (2) but I found this on youtube - I wonder if it was more like this. (a) VIDEO (b) so, how did Mary feel? b. how did Mary feel? i. virgin - confusing (1) She was a virgin - had never known a man (a) so was very puzzled, and I bet not a little terrified! (2) and she was going to have some explaining to do - because she was engaged, ii. unmarried - scandalous (1) and Joseph knew it wasn’t him. Yes dear, it wasn’t you. It was God! Right! (a) so he looked for ways to “put her away” - to break the engagement. After all she was pregnant to someone else. Not a great start to a marriage. (b) and so God sent an angel in a dream and convinced him not to (i) she would have had no prospects of support beyond begging if that had happened. Very vulnerable iii. young woman - unlikely and very young (1) virgin = young woman, but did not know a man (a) but she was probably only 13-15 years old (i) the whole thing must have been completely confusing and terrifying, (b) so how could she sing a song of praise??? Especially one as wonderful as this? (2) need to briefly deal with another matter before we look at that iv. the two overreactions and an error (1) that she is central, and an active participant in the redemption of the world by the Lord Jesus (2) that she is irrelevant and completely unimportant in the whole scheme. (3) but perhaps the biggest error is that it’s not about Mary. This section centres around Mary, but it’s not about her. c. It’s not about Mary i. The problem of a word… ii. this section of Luke’s gospel, going back to v26 has been understood as the place where we find the doctrine of the immaculate conception of Mary (1) because she was (v42) (a) Blessed are you among women v42 (2) that is, she was different, and the source of all blessing. (a) but the idea is not that somehow Mary was different or special but that she was a woman, and ordinary, 1st century, back-blocks Galilean woman (3) and that God had shown her favour. Had been inordinately kind (a) So Mary herself sees herself not as the immaculate mother of God, but simply a servant, being used by God (i) “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. v38 2. It’s all about God a. turns the focus immediately on God i. Mary starts her song in glory, but not her own glory, but God’s (1) And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,” vv46-47 ii. She sees that the proper object of worship is not herself, is not the mother of the Lord, but the Lord himself. (1) and her soul, her whole being glorifies God, brings him the praise. (a) the older versions used to say (i) My soul doth magnify the Lord, v46 KJV (2) because what was going on here is that God is being made great, and she is clearly seeing herself as less (a) for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. v48 (3) Mary herself see herself as humble, and just a servant of God (a) over the centuries Mary has been elevated far above where she sees herself, and even by some, appallingly, as the person, who together with Christ has redeemed the world (i) co-redemptrix is the the technical term 1) someone who acts as a redeemer a) as Pope Benedict said 2) She suffers with her suffering and dying son… Therefore, one can say, she redeemed with Christ the human race. (ii) and to be frank, this is sheer blasphemy. 1) There is only one redeemer, only one mediator between God and mankind, the man Jesus Christ. 1 Tim 2:5 2) not just a matter of irrelevance, but of crucial importance. a) to believe in Mary as the co-redemptrix and the mediatrix is to believe in a Jesus who is not up to the task himself, but needs his mother’s help. 3) and Mary doesn’t think she’s anything like that (b) but she sees herself as simply God’s servant, though people will call her blessed - to be envied. 1) From now on all generations will call me blessed, vv48 (ii) because while we do not want to blasphemously overstate Mary’s role, it would also be wrong to understate it. (c) she was favoured by God, she spent most of Jesus’ earthly life with him (i) from those first baby cries after his birth, to his last breaths on the cross, Mary was there. And she was blessed by God in this. (ii) It could have been any woman, but it was her. (d) but what she does over and over through this song is point us to God b. God works i. she sees that God is at work (1) she sees him as her saviour (clearly not sinless at this point!) v47 (a) only lost people need saviours, and if she had been sinless, she would not have needed a saviour. (2) and sees herself as the where God has been at work (a) for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. v49 (3) and because she sees the work of God in her life, she praises him - Holy is his name. (a) but also that he is at work for all those who fear God (i) His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; vv50–51 (b) because God extends his mighty arm for those who fear him. He has shown mercy for those who love him, faithfully, consistently, dependably. (4) and he does this in three ways in Mary’s song (a) first c. God works though the weak i. she sings and gives glory to God because he works through the weak! (1) why does she do this? (a) because she sees herself as one of those! She sees herself as a weak person, and she was! (2) as we already thought about she was young - perhaps 13-15 years old (3) and she was a woman - which in the Israel of the 1st century meant few rights, little power, and no place in public life. (a) and finally she was an Israelite, which in global geopolitics, even of the 1st century was to be nothing more than an extremely minor irritation in the armpit of Rome. (4) yet the God of all the world was working through her, a young, Israelite woman (a) He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. v52–53 (5) so God lifts up the humble, and fills the hungry with good things. (a) that’s the way God works (i) humanity looks for strength and majesty for their salvation (b) but God works in the places where you would never expect him to, in the weak, and in the lowly, because it is then that God’s power is seen to most good and Godly (i) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2Corinthians 12:9 (c) God lifts up the weak, and he brings down the strong d. God brings down the strong i. and Mary sings about this (1) because the strong, and the wealthy so often get there by oppressing the weak and the poor. (a) He has brought down rulers (b) he has sent the rich away empty (2) because they do not fear God, (a) the problem with power, any power, and money is just one form of power, is that you begin to trust in it. (i) and. you turn away from the one place you can find real stability - in God (b) we had friends in Argentina in 1989, (i) when the inflation rate was 3080% - that 10%/day! On average! (c) nobody wanted Arg pesos, they all wanted USD because between paydays your pay would more than halve in its buying power. I imagine some would have even wanted AUD! (i) but we trust so much in our ability to do commerce. 1) but God brings the rich low, because then they may trust in him, and raises the poor up, because they do trust him! Because they have nothing else. (ii) and he scatters the proud (d) rather than getting on the winning side, and backing Babylon, or Assyria, or Greece, or Rome. Seeing those as the way to change the world, to bring the world back to him (i) rather: 1) But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1Corinthians 1:27 (ii) he chose Israel, 1) he chose Nazareth a) he chose a poor family i) he chose a human woman to be the mother of a very special human man - Jesus Christ, God’s chosen king. e. God is faithful to his promises i. because God stays faithful to his promises. (1) which is where Mary takes us at the end of her song (a) He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” vv54–55 (2) God had promised to bless the family of Abraham, through his children (a) and through them to bless the world! (i) it was because God keeps his promises, he remembers his mercy, his steadfast love (3) Mary wells up in grateful song, not because she was going to be the mother of God, and receive glory and acclaim, and have people pray to her. (a) but because she was about to see the most exciting thing in all of human history. (i) a birth. - but not just any birth of course, but a birth that brings the fulfillment of all God’s promises. (b) because all God’s promises come together, and are completed in Jesus (i) For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2Corinthians 1:20 (4) Paul captures it perfectly there - Because all God’s promises are yes in Jesus, then the Amen, the SO BE IT, through him to the glory of God. (a) Mary glorifies God because of her coming child - her own saviour - the Lord Jesus, and we too glorify God because of Mary’s son - Jesus Christ. The saviour of us all. 3. There’s something about Mary a. a faithful Jew i. there is something about Mary - she’s not just any old person (1) she was chosen by God, and blessed by God (a) she was a faithful Jewish woman who was waiting for God to fulfil his promises, his promises to be merciful to Israel, (i) to bring them blessing (2) later in chapter 2 we meet another faithful Jewish woman, Anna, (a) and when the young family, Jesus just 8 days old, came up to the temple. (i) she never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:37–38 (3) they were waiting for their saviour - the one who would redeem Jerusalem, and bring God’s blessings, and now they had met him. (a) and Mary was carrying him b. an obedient servant i. and Mary herself submits herself to God’s will. (1) “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” vv38 ii. she trusts God for his word, and his goodness. (1) she trusts that despite this quite shocking news, God will look after her, and her baby will be born (a) and that this baby will be the Son of God, the king of Israel, who will reign forever (1v33) (2) and laying over all that, she was a c. a hopeful mother i. She looked forward to the salvation of Israel, (1) she was waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promises, (a) all in this little baby beginning to grow inside her (i) there is a wonderful song called “Mary did you know” and in the first verse it says 1) Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? 2) Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? 3) This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you (ii) the answer is yes - yes she did, she had hope of new birth 1) and with each step she had more to think about. (b) after the shepherds had told the young mother about what the angels had sung (that’s next week!) (i) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19 (2) the events of these early months gave her much to think about, but Simeon may have had the most worrying (a) after rejoicing that his eyes had seen salvation from God, he then says something that must have caused many sleepless nights (i) And a sword will pierce your own soul too. Luke 2:35 (b) what must have gone through her mind with those words (i) and how could she have possibly known the path to fulfillment. (3) and how those words must have come crashing back standing at Golgotha with her son crucified, bleeding and dying before her (a) that sin-bearing death that was to offer the salvation for all (i) is here in this song, of Mary, looking forward in hope (ii) a hope that can only happen in the death of the one she is about to bring birth to. (b) My soul glorifies the Lord 4. It’s not just about Mary i. Well we’ve seen that the song of Mary is actually all about God, and her praise of God of all that he has done for her and for Israel, and so for the world (1) and that bring us to some important things to see b. God elevates the unworthy i. he used Mary, he chose her to be the one that carried the saviour of the world (1) and he consistently opposes the proud and lifts up the lowly (a) he uses the weak to show his strength (i) and so he can and does use us, (b) weak fragile human beings that we are (i) sinful, rebellious, selfish people that we are (c) he uses us to show the greatness of his power (i) when I used to work on campus I used to do question times for those who didn’t believe. they were terrifying times (d) I remember once going to a lecture theatre in SU and the room was full. About 100 people sitting in every chair and in the aisles. I began a 2 minute talk about Jesus to get us started, but I didn’t get more than 20s into it before people started to yell, and abuse me. (i) some stuff was thrown. Med students can be really high class 1) an hour later it was all over because the next lecture was in, but I felt like a complete failure a) I didn’t get to answer even one question properly 2) it was awful (ii) but it still sticks in my mind when a week later a young man walked up to me and wanted to know more about Jesus. 1) not because I answered his questions, but because I took the abuse with grace, and didn’t bite back, I was gobsmacked (iii) but I shouldn’t have been. It wasn’t about me, or my answers, it was about God showing himself in my weakness. c. God uses the unexpected i. and so he also uses the unexpected (1) at the 2 most key points in the Bible narrative about Jesus, the annunciation, where the birth is announced, and the resurrection, women are the first witnesses. (a) that was not to be expected in the cultural milieu of the time. Men should have done it. Important men. (i) but no, God keeps using the unexpected 1) the small village tradesman boy, born of a young betrothed mother a) he doesn’t make it big and get elected president 2) but goes to his death. A completely unexpected way to become king (ii) yet that is the way God uses. (2) and he can use us in unexpected ways too. Alexander Solzhenitsyn said that a crucial part of him becoming a Christian was seeing how the Christians loved one another in the horror of Stalin’s gulag’s. (a) I bet they didn’t realise how God was using them. d. God delivers the incredible promise i. and through all this, God still works to keep his promises (1) the promise to bless all the world (a) to bless you and to bless me (b) to make us people who can glorify God, with full hearts and open mouths (2) to turn us around from our desire to run away from God (a) and that may be where you are (i) in a place where God feels irrelevant or distant, or unreal (b) and yet God has promised that he will bring you the blessings of relationship with him. The blessings of forgiveness of sins, and of new life (i) of a new heart, and a new direction, if you will just trust him. (3) and you can do that today. (a) We are celebrating advent, when Jesus came into the world. And Jesus is now coming to you. Offering you new life, new heart, forgiveness, and a way to live that is purpose designed for you. (i) you will live the life you were always meant to lead. (4) and if you are a believer, then you too can sing: (a) sing because of his promises (b) sing because of his faithfulness (c) sing because of his love (i) My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, vv46–47 Amen Let’s Pray “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” May our souls glorify the Lord. And out Spirits rejoice in God our Saviour.