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A gospel message based on what the Roman Catholic church calls "The Magnificat." A good Christmas message.
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Over 2000 years ago, a young girl named Mary proclaimed something so magnificent that her proclamation has, for most of the centuries since, been simply called The Magnificat. It all began in this amazing way:
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 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.”
Then said Mary unto the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” And the angel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her.
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda, and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
And Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from hence-forth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath holpen His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. Luke 1:26-56.
Mary spoke from her heart, and she had a full heart. Her declaration was not a rehearsed speech, but rather it was a spontaneous response to the greeting she had received from her cousin Elizabeth. Notice what she said:
“My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
That was her amazing opening statement, and it is very revealing: First, Mary knew that she had received a message from God and had been shown great favor by God—she knew it and was glad of it. She mentioned her soul and stated that it “magnified” (praised) God. The soul is the seat of human feeling. It may be that the reader does not presently feel like praising God, although realizing that he or she should. That can wonderfully change, because of the next thing that Mary said:
“And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” While the soul is the seat of our feelings, God’s Word tells us that “the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord.” Proverbs 20:27. It is by the spirit that man may enjoy a rich relationship with God; and Mary plainly enjoyed that relationship. Why? Was it just because God had spoken to her and blessed her? No, it was more that! It was because she could say “God my Saviour.” Notice that she said “my Saviour.” That short phrase reveals two things. Many people may readily recognize God as “a Savior,” but cannot say with Mary “my Saviour.”
First of all, Mary, by speaking of God as her Savior, was admitting that she knew that she had needed salvation—just like every other person on earth. After the angel had appeared to Mary, God had spoken to Joseph and told him about the Child which was to be born to Mary, and had told Joseph, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. And, secondly, to confirm that she knew her personal need and was not merely speaking of salvation in a general sense, she used the possessive word “my.” How amazing is that!
Can my reader lay the same claim on God today as Mary did 2000 years ago? Yes, God is the same—"God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all.” 1 Timothy 2:3-6. Did Mary really need a Savior? Yes, for God’s Word says, “for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22-23. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
Mary’s Magnificat holds yet more meaning, but if you do not share Mary’s beginning, then it holds nothing more for you. Is God your Savior through Jesus?
If He is, then praise Him as Mary did.