TEXT: Luke 1:46-55
MESSAGE: “A Reason to Sing”
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“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
How did Jesus’ birth impact Mary?
It impacted her…(1. Personally 2. Socially 3. Eternally)
1. Personally (v. 46-50)
“And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.”
“God my savior shows that Mary recognized her need — she was a sinner like other people.” – Leon Morris
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” — Zephaniah 3:17
“He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” — Psalm 25:9
2. Socially (v. 51-53)
“He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.”
“When God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ, He was born in the feed trough. When His parents took Him to circumcision, their offering was two pigeons—the offering that was accepted for those on the lowest rung on the economic ladder. Jesus was essentially homeless. He said, “Foxes have holes, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” He rode into town on a borrowed donkey. He ate His last meal in a borrowed room. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. He was poor!” – Timothy Keller
“The Christ whose Gospel we preach is no unapproachable philosopher…the ignorant and the illiterate may find in Him their best friend.” – Charles Spurgeon
3. Eternally (v. 54-55)
“…He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
TAKEAWAYS: How can Jesus’ arrival cause us to sing like Mary?
By believing…
I. God’s Love Is True
II. Our Obedience Impacts Eternity
v. 48-50: “…For behold, 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 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.”
They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality.” – John 8:41
“Well might her heart be filled with a wondering tremulous joy at so great a privilege. Yet that very blessedness was to be a sword to pierce her heart. It meant that some day she would see her son hanging on a cross. To be chosen by God so often means at one and the same time a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow.” – William Barclay
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9