Sermon Tone Analysis

Luke 1:46-55

Don’t you just love Christmas Music?

There is something about singing songs about Christmas that is refreshing, don’t you think?

Now, of course there are many so-called Christmas songs that are secular- they point to Santa or simply a winter setting.

There are funny songs, and let’s just face it, bad songs- but there are also worshipful songs that really emphasize the true celebration and wonder of Christmas.

Intro: Don’t you just love Christmas Music?

There is something about singing songs about Christmas that is refreshing, don’t you think?

Now, of course there are many so-called Christmas songs that are secular- they point to Santa or simply a winter setting.

There are funny songs, and let’s just face it, bad songs- but there are also worshipful songs that really emphasize the true celebration and wonder of Christmas.

CONTEXT

Last week we looked at a prophecy in the book of Isaiah.

This week, we fast forward 700 years to a time when Christ was still unknown to most of the world.

That’s right, in our text today, Jesus has yet to be born.

Joseph is unaware- indeed nobody but Mary knows.

As we look back just a few verses, we see that just following Mary’s conversation with Gabriel (), she gets up and leaves in a hurry (39) to go to her cousin Elizabeth’s place.

Mary was likely nervous, after all, she just agreed to have a baby and she was unmarried, unemployed… her future husband and the community she was in would likely have some adverse reaction to this

She might have been wondering if this could really be happening

Would anyone believe her?

So as Mary entered into the house of Elizabeth, something remarkable happened.

Elizabeth, who, btw was old and barren, was also pregnant with a miracle baby who we know as John the Baptist.

When Mary greeted Elizabeth, John the pre-born Baptist, leaped in Elizabeth’s womb!

And Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit rejoiced in Mary’s situation.

I think that God revealed this to Elizabeth supernaturally and used her to reassure Mary and to celebrate with her the miracle that God was performing.

And as we come to our passage for today, we might ask, What did Mary know?

Every mother dreams of who their child will become and what all they might do, but in these verses we get to see Mary’s heart as she reflects upon what God is doing.

And, get this, she does so in song!

And you thought that only happened in Disney movies!!

The Honor of Being Involved (46-49)

We see Mary begin her song in praise- She is overwhelmed both emotionally and spiritually because God allowed her to be used in His great work.

Think: God could have used any number of women to fulfill this.

God could have used a woman from a wealthy home

He could have used a woman who could give Jesus a better platform for ministry

He could have used a woman who had better cooking skills, better network of people- someone who would be more adequately equipped to handle such a responsibility of bearing the Son of God…

But He chose Mary.

A poor girl from a despised town, Nazareth in Galilee.

BTW, if you remember from last week, this is the town Isaiah prophesied would be where God’s light would shine!

Mary knew of the promised Messiah, but never did she expect that she would get to give birth to Him!!

God was doing something remarkable, and Mary of all people, got to be involved!

She was not the promised Redeemer.

She was not sinless nor divine, but God chose her to have a role in God’s work.

What an honor!

What a responsibility!

“Who am I, Lord?” she must have thought, “that You would use me?”

Do you ever think in these terms?

God has given us Jesus.

He has filled us with His Holy Spirit and allows us to help deliver the Good News of our Redeemer.

But who am I? God could use a more talented speaker, a better communicator, a larger church or someone more adequate than you and me… but that’s just the point.

It’s not about US, It’s about Jesus.

It’s about a God who is not limited to our abilities.

Because nothing is impossible with God (), we are recipient vessels to be used for God’s glory!

Paul says that we have been entrusted with the Gospel () - not unlike Mary being entrusted with the Savior.

Do you praise God for involving you or do you wince over the sacrifice that He asks?

Mary knew this great weight and great privilege and regarded herself as blessed that God would invite her into this miraculous work- this awesome intervention, when God became flesh and dwelled among us.

The Great Mercy of God’s Presence (50-53)

Mary recognized that this baby- this miracle meant that God would be present among men.

As we discussed last week, speaks about a child being born and named Immanuel which means “God with us.”

And what we have to see here is that God’s presence is a wonderful and frightening reality.

Remember, God is Holy.

He is just.

When Isaiah saw the vision of God in the temple (), he was made aware of his own unrighteousness.

When Moses asked to see God’s glory in , God told him he couldn’t bear to see it, but only was allowed a glimpse after God passed by.

And do you remember what happened?

His face shone!!

Even the priest who would enter into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people understood that it was there that the presence of God would meet with him and His presence met in order to bring judgment.

You see, what Mary knew, was that even though we deserved God’s presence to bring about judgment, instead He gave us Jesus!

This is a great reason to sing, don’t you think?!?!

And this miracle of mercy, Jesus, would impact every generation to come!

This is good news, for God poured out His mercy.

But Mary points out that pride would prevent God’s mercy, for God opposes the proud.

Let me say it this way, the great mercy of God is extended, but we cannot receive His mercy unless we acknowledge our need for it.

The proud trust in themselves.

The humble lean on God- trusting in Him alone.

Jesus said, in , Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

We can look through the gospels at the characters known as Pharisees, who opposed Jesus.

They had bought into the idea that their acceptance before God was to be earned through their own effort and abilities.

Friend, it is a dangerous place to be when we look upon our lives and feel as if we ‘have done enough’ for God.

When we feel as though we deserve heaven; when we feel as though we are enough, we have bought into the lies of the enemy.

King Nebuchadnezzar learned this lesson.

Let me read to you from

If you have trouble praising God, it might be because you are trying to sit in His seat.

In Mary’s song, she praises God for His blessing upon her and she praises Him for His mercy for all generations.

If you have trouble praising God, it might be because you are trying to sit in His seat.

Mary knew that God’s character was consistent and that pride would prevent one from experiencing the mercy that was given to the generations.

The Answer to God’s Promises (54-55)

One thing we have to acknowledge about Mary: She knew the Scriptures.

She was well-versed in the promises of God throughout the Old Testament.

She knew that God had promised One who would crush the head of the serpent ().

She knew that God had promised one who would be the blessing spoken of to Abraham.

She knew the promises made to Moses and later to David.

She knew that there was going to be a Messiah who would come and who would deliver us from our bondage- she knew that the coming Redeemer would bring peace and would restore humanity to our Holy God.

And she knew that Jesus was the answer to these promises.

I doubt that Mary knew how God would do all this- she probably didn’t expect Him to walk on water or calm seas.

But she did expect that He would do the impossible.

And we see that in the days after Jesus’ birth, Mary would be told about how angels had pronounced His birth, and she would hear the words of Simeon in the temple and the prophetess Anna as well and she knew that this baby boy was indeed the Son of God.

Look at what she says in v. 55. “In remembrance of His mercy...”

God kept His covenant

God did not change His mind - He is faithful and true.

As we celebrate Christmas each year, we celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promises.

We sing “Joy to the World” and “O Holy Night” as we rejoice in God’s Son.

Because God is faithful- because He kept these promises, we can be confident that He will keep His promises to the Church.