Christmas Song
Notes
Transcript
Handout
v.46:
Mary received a gift from God, and this was her response.
Her joy was so great that her soul magnified the Lord. That is, she truly praised God, out of love and joy. Not just empty ritual.
v.47:
Although Mary may not of fully realized the scope of what was happening, she knew that her salvation was in God and Him alone.
Her faith was not in doubt (if it were, she wouldn’t have been chosen in the first place).
v.48:
Mary knew that she was God’s servant, and that compared to Him, she was lowly.
We must remember that we are nothing compared to God.
We must remember that we are nothing compared to God.
Ephesians 4:6
Ephesians 4:6
one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Matthew 10:24
Matthew 10:24
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
Mary knew that she wasn’t worthy, and that gave her all the more reason to praise God.
So, when Mary said that she would be called blessed, she wasn’t being conceited, it’s what Gabriel had told her.
We are all blessed, who have been chosen to serve God.
We are all blessed, who have been chosen to serve God.
She was acknowledging the greatness of the gift (Jesus), and knew that others would recognize it as well.
Mary acknowledged the greatness and holiness of Jesus, even though He had yet to be born.
Mary acknowledged the greatness and holiness of Jesus, even though He had yet to be born.
Luke 1:32-33
Luke 1:32-33
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
v.49:
Mary definitely had a humble attitude; she didn’t say “look what I have done, see how great I am.” Instead Mary gave all of the credit, honor and glory to God.
She acknowledged His supreme holiness, and His holy name.
Acts 4:12
Acts 4:12
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
v.50:
God shows mercy to those who fear Him.
Without a fear of God, there is no respect of God.
Where there is no respect of God, there will be no love of God.
We love Him because He first loved us, and we fear Him because He is the Almighty God!
v.51:
As the Almighty God, He Wields a strong arm! This arm is an arm of judgment.
He scatters (separates) the proud.
The proud won’t trust anyone but themselves. For this reason they do not have the faith necessary for salvation; therefore, they will be separated from God.
To be separated from God is to be in hell.
The only hope that a proud man has, is what he can imagine in his heart.
Without a proper view of our relationship to God, pride will prevail.
Without a proper view of our relationship to God, pride will prevail.
Romans 1:21
Romans 1:21
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
It’s not that people don’t know who God is, it’s that they won’t trust and glorify Him. They won’t trust anyone but themselves.
v.52:
It is this same arm that crushes His enemies.
Even the mightiest of men are nothing to God.
God sets up kingdoms and takes them down according to His will and purpose. Nothing that anyone can do can stop it from happening.
It is the same arm that exalts the lowly.
"Lowly” speaks primarily of ones attitude, not not one’s economic or social standing.
God will exalt the meek and the humble. These are the people who will trust and rely on God.
Your own strength will get you nowhere, but God’s strength will support and protect you from now until eternity.
v.53:
The words hunger and rich, again, speak to ones attitude more so than wealth.
We all know that wealth doesn’t exclude one from God, but one’s attitude does.
Those who hunger for God will be well fed, with “good things.”
Those who believe that happiness is found in riches will receive nothing of God.
Those who believe that happiness is found in riches will receive nothing of God.
“Human history is the terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” - C.S. Lewis
Luke 16:25
Luke 16:25
But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
The rich man trusted only in his riches, consequently, his riches were all he got.
Luke 12:16-21
Luke 12:16-21
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Matthew 16:26
Matthew 16:26
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
v.54:
This verse indicates that Mary knew Jesus would somehow save His people.
This word “help” literally means to support from falling, to hold by the hand. It is a picture of the redemptive work of Christ, the Messiah.
This, of course, is only possible because of God’s loving mercy.
v.55:
Mary understood the messianic prophecies, and knew that Jesus was the one spoken of to the fathers.
Mary knew that Jesus was the one spoken of to the fathers.
Mary knew that Jesus was the one spoken of to the fathers.
Genesis 12:2-3
Genesis 12:2-3
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Isaiah 9:6-7
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Luke 1:31-33
Luke 1:31-33
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Through Jesus Christ, all the families of the earth will be blessed.
Christ will one day purge the earth, and restore it to it’s original, Edenic, pre-sin condition. At that point, all the families of the earth will be blessed. And this blessing will be eternal.
There is every indication that Mary knew quite a lot about who Jesus would be, she was told by Gabriel.
She understood the prophecies, and lastly, she pondered these things in her heart.
Mary understood the prophecies, and pondered those things in her heart, as should we.
Mary understood the prophecies, and pondered those things in her heart, as should we.
Luke 2:19
Luke 2:19
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
