When the Soul Sings

Mary’s Magnificat

Marys song

Introduction:

Many of you are living with major disappointment:

Some of you are in the middle of relationship problems

Some are processing devastating health news

My guess is that some of you have no idea how you’re going to afford Christmas

Many of you wonder if your prodigal child will ever return

A handful of you can’t stand your job but feel trapped

Some of you just feel really sad *

A few of you can’t sleep at night

Others are overwhelmed by life

Perhaps someone close to you has died

For some of you, your anger is eating you up

Maybe you feel like you’ll never be loved

Sometimes the most powerful songs are born in the darkest nights. I think of little Michael, just three years old, who sang to his baby sister while she was still in her mother’s womb.

Karen was expecting another child and so she worked to prepare little 3 year old Michael for the birth of his baby sister. Every night Michael sang to his sister in Mommy’s tummy. During the delivery of the baby serious, complications developed. After many hours of struggle, Michael’s little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. She was rushed to a neonatal intensive care unit in another hospital in Knoxville Tennessee. Instead of getting better, the little girl continued to decline. The pediatric specialist told Karen and her husband that "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst." The parents contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. Meanwhile Michael continued to beg his parents to let him see his sister. "I want to sing to her," he said. But kids were never allowed in intensive care. The second week of his sister’s intensive care stay, Michael’s sister looked like she wouldn’t make it through the week. So, Karen made up her mind that she would take Michael to see his sister whether the hospital liked it or not. If Michael didn’t see her right away . . . he might never get to see her at all. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. The head nursed demanded that he leave. The mother’s instinct rose up strong in Karen, and she looked at the head nurse with steel-eyed determination: "He’s not leaving until he sings to his sister." She took Michael to his sister’s bed. After a few moments of looking at his sister all connected to tubes three year-old Michael began to sing. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray ---" And instantly the baby seemed to respond. Her pulse slowed and became steady. "Keep singing, Michael,” said Karen. "You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away." The strained breathing of his sister became as smooth as a kitten’s purr. "Keep on singing, Sweetheart!" coaxed Karen. The head nurse now stood transfixed with tears in her eyes. He sang the chorus again and again. And the next day -- the very next day -- Michael’s little sister was well enough to go home. Women’s Day magazine called it "The Miracle of the Brother’s Song". The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God’s love.

Mary’s Magnificat was also sung in a moment of tension—she was a young, humble girl facing uncertainty, yet she sang of God’s greatness.

Just as Michael’s song brought life and hope, Mary’s song declared life and hope in Christ

So this morning, as we begin this series Carols of Christmas, let’s listen not just to Mary’s words, but to her heart. Let’s learn how to rejoice in the God who still writes songs of hope into our lives.

Luke 1:46–56 NIV

46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Right before this passage Mary was with elizabeth and ask why me,

Luke 1:45 “45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!””

1. Rejoice—because Jesus rescues!

He Saves Us (v. 46)

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 5400 σωτήρ

rescuer, one who delivers or saves

2. God sees the ones the world forgets

He Notices the Unnoticed

Luke 1:48 “48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,”

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 5428 ταπείνωσις

low status

3. Mercy wins where judgment could.

He Gives Mercy (v. 50)

Luke 1:50 “50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.”

4. Mighty deeds, mighty God.

He Does Great Things (v. 51)

Luke 1:51 “51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.”

5. The lowly are lifted, the proud are scattered.

He blesses the humble 48 and 51

i. Sometimes we claim we are humble

ii. But what about our inmost thoughts

1. I need to be the one getting patted on the back

Luke 1:48 “48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,”

Luke 1:51 “51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.”

Luke 1:53 “53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.”

This is contrary to the worlds teaching. He reached down not to a king, or a prophet. He reached down to a lowly. He still reaches down t the lowly. He turned the tables now the servant will be lifted. Luke 6:20–21 “20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”

6.Hope is alive because He remembers

He Gives Hope (v. 54)

Luke 1:54 “54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful”

Closing

Just as little Michael’s song carried life into a hospital room, Mary’s song carried hope into a world waiting for salvation. Both remind us that when God’s love sings, despair is silenced and hope is born.

So may your soul magnify the Lord, may your spirit rejoice in God your Savior, and may the carol of rejoicing rise in your heart this Christmas.