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Mary’s Song

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.”

 

Before these verses in Luke, chapter 1, the angel Gabriel has already visited Mary and told her that God has shown His grace to her and that she will be the mother of the Messiah. And Mary has gone to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with Jesus’s forerunner, John the Baptist. Both Mary and Elizabeth confirm and rejoice that they are in the presence of their Lord. The verses before us is Mary’s response to all of this.

Mary Did You Know?

I borrow the correlation to this very popular Christmas tune from Andy de Ganahl, who wrote on this topic back in 2019.

In verses 46 – 48, we read that Mary knows that God is her Savior. She says in verses 49 and 50, that the Mighty One has done great things and that His mercy extends from generation to generation. I believe that Mary knew that God had performed a miracle in her, allowing her to have this special baby without being married.

Did Mary know that Jesus would walk on water or that he would restore a blind man? I doubt that Mary knew every detail of her son’s earthly ministry, but I do believe that Mary knew that she had been shown grace by her merciful God and that her baby would be blessed.

The question before us today is not so much “What did Mary know?” as it is “What do you know? Do you know that Mary’s son, Jesus, is indeed God incarnate? Do you know that He is the promised seed of Abraham and seed of David who came to bless the families of the earth? Do you know that He came to die in the place of sinners, just like you?

I hope so! If you know this, believe this, and trust in this message, then let it propel you, as it did Mary, to worship Him.

Dear Lord, I ask that you be present with me today, just like you were with Mary. Please give me the ability to hear and understand God's will, just like Mary responded. And most importantly, give me the willingness to say "yes" to You so that I can be open to Your will in my life.

Donna DeMauro

donna@demaurostl.com

 

Prayer Concern: Please open the hearts of people who don’t believe this beautiful story.