Ramblings of a Pastor in Training: Christmas Story

Luke 1:46-55

⁴⁶And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord

⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

⁴⁸for 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.

⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful

⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Prayer

"Mary, Did You Know?" is a Christmas song addressing Mary, mother of Jesus, with lyrics written by Mark Lowry in 1984, and music written by Buddy Greene in 1991. It was originally recorded by Christian recording artist Michael English on his self-titled debut solo album in 1991. At the time, English and Lowry were members of the Gaither Vocal Band, and Greene was touring with them. Others such as Wynonna Judd, Kenny Rogers, Clay Aiken, and Cee Lo Green would record their own versions later. Some of the lyrics include

Mary, did you know? That your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know? That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know? That your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered, Will soon deliver you?

Another verse says:

Mary, did you know? That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know? That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know? That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding Is the Great I Am?

Oh Mary did you know?

In an interview about the song Lowry said:

“ I just tried to put into words the unfathomable. I started thinking of the questions I would have for her if I were to sit down & have coffee with Mary. You know, "What was it like raising God?" "What did you know?" "What didn't you know?"

None of the questions are answered in the song. Instead, the lyrics poetically invite the listener to contemplate the relationship between Mary and her newborn divine son, even if according to the song, her faith and awareness did not yet include the details of what would unfold. The problem with this song is that it doesn't line up with scripture. I like the song, from time to time I may even sing it, but the song is off when it comes to the Christmas story. Mary knew that the baby boy was prophesied to come in scripture. If by chance Mary didn’t know scripture, an angel told Mary what was going on and that the child, God in human flesh that was coming. I'm not out here to spoil someone's Christmas...this time just want to tell you what the Bible says. There are songs in hymnals that have some questionable theology, there are some old 100s that don't line up exactly with scripture, just like there are some new songs out there that line up with scripture and some new gospel songs that do not line up with scripture. Again, not here to rain on anyone's parade, just to talk about what the Bible says.

This preamble to the Christmas story comes from Gospel according to Luke, the first chapter, written by a physician who occasionally traveled with Paul. The Gospel of Luke was written after the Gospel of Mark, and the author was writing to a primarily Jewish audience when he wrote it. Mark gets right down to business, Matthew looks more favorably on the church, and Luke was written so that the Jewish people of the time could hear why we believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the savior. Luke wants to give us an orderly account of the prophecies that a Savior was coming, how that savior is Jesus, and how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies.

Earlier in Luke chapter 1, an angel comes to visit Zechariah the priest to let him know that his wife Elizabeth was going to have a child John the Baptist, later on in chapter 1, an angel visits Mary and tells her in verses 30 through 33.

³⁰But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Plain as day, son of the Most High, he will get the throne of David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever, his kingdom will never end. Mary gets this news and gets scared, she goes to visit Elizabeth and when Elizabeth and Mary meet, the baby in Elizabeth's womb, John the Baptist, leaps for joy. Mary gets so excited that she sings a song. That song she sang is the verses I read. The song is called the Magnificat Latin for "My Soul Magnifies the Lord. Also called the Song of Mary, or the Canticle of Mary, this song/prayer has things in common with another prayer with another young lady before she was pregnant. Mary is a young lady who is desperate and loves God just like Hannah was desperate and loved God, Hannah reached out to God in a desperate situation in 1^st Samuel 2 and Mary is reaching out to God in a desperate situation in Luke chapter 1.

Why would Mary be desperate, she is from a small town called Nazareth, a town that people made fun of and asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Desperate because she is a young woman, not married yet and an angelic being just told her she is about to have a child. Pregnant unwed mothers during the Bible times were not safe, there are old testament scriptures that let us know if the wrong person found out Mary was pregnant, Mary would be stoned. Desperate because even if she was not pregnant, it was hard to be a woman during that time, with no ability to own property, or do certain kinds of work, women could not earn income. Without a man, the women of those times were not able to even support themselves that this why James said for Christians to take care of widows and orphans because they would be unable to take care of themselves legally or financially in these systems.

Take away the discrimination towards Mary based on her hometown, take away the mistreatment of women during these times, take away how Mary would be treated if people found out she was pregnant before getting married to Joseph, Mary would still be desperate because during this time because the Israelites were under Roman rule. The Israelites were ruled by King Herod, Roman appointed ruler of Judea. Herod, the one who was appointed King of the Jews even though he wasn't one. Herod, who took control and freedoms away from the Israelites so they couldn't even manage their affairs. Herod who took money away from the Israelites. Herod who built buildings on their land and dedicated them to the Romans. Herod who didn't follow the laws of Moses in the scripture but would pretend to be a believer when it suited him. Herod who used violence and secret police forces advance his agenda and to persecute the Jewish people...why does this sound so familiar?

Mary is a poor, young woman, from a small town, not thought highly of. There are proud self-righteous people, oppressive governments, Kings, and rulers looking to keep the status quo, and Mary is about to bring a child into all of this. Mary is scared and desperate.

Despite the present situation, Mary visits Elizabeth, when they get together, Elizabeth gets happy, and Mary gets happy. Mary sings and prays to God while with Elizabeth because she knows who she is and whose she is. Mary has a testimony and she has to tell somebody about it.

The praise of Mary to God (1:46-56)

1. The testimony (1:46-55): Mary thanks God for six things.

a. His observation (1:46-48): God took notice of her. God took notice of a young woman from a small town, God will use anyone to accomplish his will. You cannot look down on anyone the Bible tells us sometimes that we may have entertained angels unaware. We don't know who we are talking to sometimes nor what God has in store for us or them. I hear sports coaches say all the time "availability is the best ability." The fact that Mary was available to be used by God set this whole thing in motion. What have we missed out on by simply not being available, not being open to trying something new, littering our minds with "it can't be done" or "I'm not good enough?" The text says that God was mindful of his servant, she rejoiced because of this fact she didn't shy away from the moment.

b. His holiness (1:49): He has done great things for her. The Lord has done great things, the Lord is doing great things, the Lord will continue to do great things. Mary said that despite being from a poor place, despite being a woman in BC times, despite being oppressed by King Herod, she knew where her help came from and she knew her God was holy. The current situation may look bad right now, but the downtime is just half time there is still more of the game to play. God's name is mighty, God's name is great, and greatly to be praised.

c. His mercy (1:50): His mercy goes on from generation to generation. This is long-lasting, not a fad or a quick event. That mercy is available to all who want it. This mercy is not something you can earn or something you deserve. God is merciful and loves us. We could never do anything to earn our salvation, but we get it because of God’s grace, God’s lovingkindness, God’s tender mercies. Mary was in a bad situation, but God had help on the way. We are in a bad situation and God has help on the way.

d. His power (1:51): He does tremendous things with his power. God speaks and worlds get formed based on his word.

e. His sovereignty (1:52-53): He humbles the proud and exalts the lowly. That is why we should worship God and not people in positions. People can be on top one moment and lose whatever status they had the next. We cannot get overly attached to any man, woman, celebrity, politician, company CEO. We must stay focused on God, the grass withers, and the flower fades, but the word of God is forever.

f. His faithfulness (1:54-55): He has kept all his promises to Israel. God is not a man that he should lie nor the son of man that he should seek cause to repent. If God says it, that settles it, and it is going to happen. Jesus came to provide us with a path to salvation. Jesus cane to provide us that ruler for all generations. Mary is telling us that Christ was coming and she knew that the baby boy coming through her was going to save the world. She knew Mary knew when she sang that Jesus was coming to change a generation. Hannah prayed and gave birth to a prophet for the nations, Mary prayed and gave birth to the savior for all creation.

I will say it again