Luke 1:39-56

Verse 39 is the record of Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s visit and message. Upon learning that she should conceive and bear a son who would be called the Son of the Highest and that her cousin Elisabeth had conceived a son in her old age, Mary went with haste to visit Elisabeth.

That Elisabeth was in her six month was news to Mary and was cause for her to visit Elisabeth. Without that news, what happened would not have happened. God caused it to happen and, consequently, caused Luke to record the scripture before us. God wants us to know that the babe in Elisabeth’s womb leaped with joy upon Mary’s greeting her cousin.

The words of verses 46-55 were spoken by Mary to an audience of one — Elisabeth. It is only by and through the Holy Spirit of God that Mary’s words are recorded as scripture for our admonition.

Mary’s words constitute a song of praise and are her response to Elisabeth who greeted her with the words: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

Instead of simply acknowledging that she was, indeed, blessed, Mary burst out with praises of the Lord God. Luke, the human author who penned this account, was moved by the Holy Spirit to record the very words which came from Mary’s lips. Mary’s song is called “the Magnificat” based on the first word of the Latin translation. The Magnificat stands out in literary style. Songs of praise, while found throughout the historical books of the Old Testament and found most commonly in the Psalms, are uncommon in the New Testament.

The Magnificat reveals the heart and soul of Mary. “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” There is but one way in which one’s soul can magnify the Lord and that way requires one to possess a soul that has been deeply touched by Him. This can only occur after one has experienced an intense closeness to Him. Mary had experienced that closeness. The angel Gabriel had appeared and announced to her that she would, by the power of God, conceive and give birth to that holy one who would be called the Son of God. Mary was blessed among women because the fruit of her womb would be the Holy One of God — the promised deliverer.

Mary exclaimed, “my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” Mary had cause for spiritual joy. She had been chosen by God to bear the Messiah. She had been honored above all women. Spiritual joy is commonly experienced by all who have been touched by God. All those who have received Christ as Lord and Savior can relate to Mary’s words for He has regarded the state of lost sinners and made us blessed for all eternity. The life which He has wrought in us, is a gift, delivered to us by the power of His grace. Holy is His name! His mercy is great and His grace is free; it extends to all who revere Him whether they be of past, present or future generations. The born again, like Mary, have the Magnificat in their hearts.

In verses 48 and 49, Mary voices the reasons for her spiritual joy. They are very personal. “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; …” Mary describes herself as God’s handmaiden, His lowly servant. Despite her low estate, she will be considered blessed by all generations. “… and holy is his name.” God’s name is holy because He is holy. He is a personal God to all who revere (fear) Him.

God extends mercy to His lowly servants. The God who elevated Mary from a lowly handmaiden to a woman blessed among women has revealed His strength by taking down the proud. He is the God who has dethroned the mighty and elevated them of low degree. He is the God who has filled the hungry and sent the rich away with nothing. He is the God who has shown Israel mercy. He is the God who spoke to Abraham.

Let there be no misunderstanding, no misinterpretation, and no misapplication. The God whom Mary praises is the unchanging God who spoke to Abraham. The God who did all that Mary cited is the same God who brought His Son into this world, born of a virgin, to die upon the cross in the place of repentant sinners. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a personal God who extends His mercy upon all who call upon Him.

Mary knew the God of Abraham. She knew a personal God. God has declared Himself to us through the lips of Mary. Only those who know the God of the handmaiden can rejoice in Him as in the manner of Mary.

The God of the handmaiden is not a God of the proud. The proud do not know the God that Mary declares. The proud do not look to God for deliverance and the Holy Spirit of God (the Comforter) is not found in them. The proud look upon themselves and marvel in themselves. The proud cannot sing the Magnificat; they can mouth Mary’s words, but they cannot match Mary’s heart.

All who have received Christ Jesus have been eternally blessed, but some sing off key, piling glory upon themselves for the gifts that God has given. Let us sing the song of the handmaiden with the heart of the handmaiden.