|
And Mary (the mother to be of Jesus Christ – circa BC 0) said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For look and see, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has brought benefit to his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. Luke 1: 46-56 |
The extract in bold above is from the first century biography of Jesus written by Luke, a physician, after considerable research. It seems likely that he interviewed Mary, mother of Jesus, at some time after his death and resurrection.
There are several interesting things which a quick reader might miss.
First, this incident occurred after the angel visited Mary in Nazareth in Galilee to tell her that she was to become pregnant through the power of the Most High. Mary had travelled into the hill country of Judea to see her relative – Elizabeth – who was also pregnant. In the interval it seems that Mary had composed and retained the song which is now recorded in bold italics above.
Second, what a song it is! She is overflowing with praise to the Lord God because she recognises her truly humble position in her world. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For look and see, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” The LORD God was her Saviour. |
|
| .
|
‘It was to save sinners that Jesus came into the world. He did not come to help them to save themselves, nor to induce them to save themselves, nor even to enable them to save themselves. He came to save them!’ (William Hendriksen, Bible scholar, 1900-1982)
|
Third, she is convinced that the mercy shown to her – to have within her the Son of the Most High, her Saviour – is not for her alone. “And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” It’s for anybody.
Fourth, had you noticed the radical effect which she is convinced is heralded by the future birth of Jesus? She has caught a glimpse of the strength of the arm of the omnipotent God. And what has she seen that the arm of the Lord God, her Saviour, is achieving? “He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.”
As often happens in the Bible, the present tense, speaking of things actually achieved, is used to show the absolute certainty of what is promised. Mary is convinced about what the arm of the LORD God will achieve through her son.
But have you (especially those of us who are Christians in Jersey) noticed what is to be achieved by her son? The dispersion of the proud in their thinking. The bringing down of the mighty from their positions of power and authority. The exaltation of those who are of “humble estate”. (The Greek word so translated is tapeinous meaning “very near to the ground”.) The filling of the hungry with good things. The rich being sent away with nothing.
It’s only of very recent times that I’ve come to see not only that what Mary sang was true but also that it has been, is being and will be achieved - fully – by her son Jesus. Please write to me if you also see it – or write if you can’t and want to see.
|
|
| .
|
‘Christ became what we are so that he might make us what he is.’ (Athanasius, theologian, 296-373 AD)
|
Fifth and final, what about, “He has brought benefit to his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”? Back 2,000 years earlier in the history of Israel, the LORD God had promised Abraham, the grandfather of Israel, that he and his offspring would be blessed for ever and that the whole world would be blessed through Abraham’s offspring. Those were promises of the Most High.
When Mary sang her carefully composed song, the fulfillment of these promises had begun. Today their fulfillment is still in course of completion.
Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned home – with her Saviour dwelling within, with God’s mercy now on earth. |
|
|
