Luke 1:46-55. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on May 9, 2021, Mother’s Day.
Today, as we honor moms, we recognize The One who gave them the honorable position that they hold.
There are many days in the course of being a parent that would easily be classified as “not-rejoicing-days.” However, there is one thing that moms can always rejoice in, no matter what kind of day it has been. When you realize that our God is also our Savior, you can rejoice in the midst of very difficult times.
Let us remember as we look at our passage that Mary speaks these things and rejoices even though, culturally and socially, she is in a tough place. It is the character and work of God that fills her heart with joy.
Let’s look at our passage.
Mary worshipped God
We do not know the full situation of Mary’s background. She is from a small village in northern Israel with a population between 200 and 400 people. We do know that Mary was a devout follower of God who found His favor. She would be the woman through whom the Messiah entered the world.
In verses 46-47, Mary breaks out into praise and worship of God. There are many today who try to teach us to worship Mary, and say of her that she was without sin, but the real Mary teaches us just who she really is, a worshipper of God. There are two aspects emphasized in her worship. She magnifies Him from her soul, and she rejoices in Him as her savior. None of us can make God greater in being, but we can speak out how great He is and lift up His reputation.
In a world that is cynical, may we be a people who are worshipping God, by magnifying Him before others. Moms, your focus is often on husbands and children, but make it your primary duty to worship God. Worship is a whole life endeavor to declare to God that you know that He is worthy of being the center of our lives.
Mary also saw God as her savior. This seems to be what makes her rejoice. Who was she in Israel? Yet, the Lord chose her to be the mother of the messiah. This would be seen as a huge social changer. The Messiah was destined to be the king of Israel. Of course, we don’t know all that Mary was thinking.
There is a clear parallel between Mary’s worshipful praise in this chapter and the same type of thing from Hannah in 1 Samuel chapter two. Some of the wording is similar, and perhaps Mary is thinking of Hannah’s situation when she found out that she would finally have a child. Clearly, Mary’s situation is different from Hannah’s, but it reminds us that there is more to the story.
Mary isn’t just declaring that she is a saved person spiritually. She is declaring that God is the one who saves her when she needs saving, past, present, and future. All moms need a spiritual savior, and it would seem a near impossible task if God were not with you. This seems to blow the idea out of the water that Mary was without sin at birth. She had a savior because she was human like us and needed one. She found for herself that God saw here lowly state and was blessing her. So, moms also need one who can deliver them, or help them, in those moments that threaten to overwhelm them. God had let Mary know that she was valuable to Him and that she had found His favor. In Jesus, all moms can know that they have found the favor of God. You don’t have to have the perfect child to get it.
In verse 50, we see that Mary feared God. God’s mercy is on those who fear Him. We’ve talked about this concept of fearing God before. It is that recognition and understanding of the position and power that God holds. It is a reverence that does not dwell in a place of fear, but shrinks back from the thought of walking away from God. To walk away from God is to walk away from the source of all goodness in this universe. It is to shut yourself off from that goodness and to become your own source. Becoming the only source of goodness that you depend on in this life should fill you with dread, and a desire to run back to God our savior. Mary clearly saw herself as receiving God’s mercy along with the rest of the remnant of Israel who feared God too much to cast off the Bible and follow the ways of the world. They were waiting upon the Lord, though it seemed that He tarried.
In verse 52, Mary once again references the lowly and the mighty. Mary sees herself as a part of those who are humble in circumstance, but she also has been humble in spirit because she looks to God to be her savior. Too many people are grasping at life trying to save themselves, or find a new guy to be the latest greatest savior in their life. Instead, we must humble ourselves and wait upon the Lord. We must let Him lift us up in the proper time. God is not enamored with men or women who are in high and mighty positions. Rather, He identifies with those who are in lowly positions, which begs the question. Does the exaltation that we want bring out the best in us when we get it? Let God determine the proper time to lift you up and rejoice in His wisdom. Besides, the only exaltation that truly matters in the end is the resurrection from the dead.
Many times, we may feel like God has forgotten that He is merciful. Yet, Mary recognized the mercy of God. In verse 54 and following, she is not just focused on herself. She is rejoicing because God has not abandoned Israel, despite the many cynical voices within Israel.
How many moms have lived through the centuries where it seemed like God had forgotten Israel? Here, we have a testimony from a woman 2,000 years ago saying, “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy!” Listen, God is not just concerned with Israel. He is concerned with you too. He is concerned with America and all of the other nations. It is sad to see the gentile nations turning away from the Gospel as an answer, but in the midst of these nations, there is a remnant of those who still trust in God, who rejoice in Him as their savior that knows just when to deliver, and deliver He shall!
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever!