Sermon Tone Analysis

Mary: The Song of Faith

Pastor Charlie Grimes, December 5th, 2021

Advent #2

God’s word is filled with stories of ordinary people confronted with circumstances and situations that seem impossible.

The beauty in each of these stories lies in the reality that what seems impossible to man comes to life — and happens through the hands of God!

We won’t always be able to understand the “how” of God.

This is where faith is forged.

When we don’t really understand, but we have faith.

“The incarnation of Christ is best adored rather than pried into.” - Matthew Henry

Trying to “figure God out” usually isn’t very successful.

Many people throughout history, and even today, are hesitant to simply “adore” Jesus.

They feel the need to understand everything before believing.

Last week, we saw Zechariah struggle to believe what Gabriel the angel explained to him, simply because he didn’t quite understand.

This morning we will unpack Mary’s story.

A story of a young girl, with a tremendous faith— who doesn’t say “How will this happen” out of unbelief— but rather says it in a spirit of “wonder”— Having faith that it would indeed happen, but she was simply interested in “How” it would happen!

Isn’t that how faith is?

We sometimes desperately want to know the “HOW”— but most of the time all we need to know is the “WHO”.

Mary understands this and lived as a shining example of what the author of Hebrews defines as “faith”.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Assurance and Conviction.

What are you assured of?

What are your convictions?

Some today may contend we cannot really “know” anything.

We live in a culture that is called Pluralistic and Relativistic.

In today’s story, Mary is informed that she will now take on the greatest, and possibly most difficult pathway in her life.

A young Jewish girl, betrothed but not yet married, with very little money, status, or influence, will become pregnant.

There is so much here in her story, I actually want us to focus on an interaction she has with Elizabeth, a cousin, who is expecting also.

After her interaction with Gabriel the angel— we see that she makes a visit to her cousin.

Luke 1:39–45 (ESV)

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Luke 1:45 (ESV)

45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

The next verses give us what Mary speaks, or rather “sings”; a wonderful song of praise and faith in God— we now know this as the “Magnificat”.

The name comes from the first word of the Latin translation, which begins, “Magnificat anima mea Dominum” (“My soul magnifies the Lord”).

Content of the Song

In a song reminiscent of Old Testament poetry, Mary praises the Lord for His mercy toward her, the nation of Israel, and all man-kind

The Magnificat reflects the Hebrew poetry found in the book of Psalms, both in form and content (Koontz, “Magnificat,” 336).

Mary’s words parallel a number of Old Testament passages, especially Hannah’s song in 1 Sam 2:1–10 and Psa 136.

Many have analyzed the song and broken it down into many parts, but I want us to look at it in two basic parts:

Mary sings of her personal salvation.

verses 46-49 she uses the first person present tense, me, I, my, mine.

Mary sings of the promised salvation.

verses 50-56 she uses a third person, past tense.

“He has” done it for them.

Lets examine the song a little closer:

Luke 1:46–47 (ESV)

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

She is worshiping God with her soul and spirit.

Soul here is the Greek word: Psyche

which is often defined as “the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being, regarded as immortal.”

Think of this perhaps as the sum of your thoughts, your emotions, and your will.

It’s our expression through our humanity.

Spirit here is the Greek word: Pneuma

often defined as “the activating or essential principle influencing a person” Think of this as the only way to connect with God.

I like that this Greek word is also the root for Pneumology, another name for pulmonology, medical specialty dealing with the respiratory tract.

It’s basically the “BREATH of Life” in us.

In Genesis we read that God breathed life into Adam— and he was alive.

Why was Mary rejoicing?

In other words, God sees her!

She is rejoicing that although she may feel invisible, or low in status in this world, God has favored her and selected her for this wonderful assignment.

And it’s no easy assignment, right?

A teenage girl, in first century Israel, from a poor part of the country, under Roman law, conceives and is pregnant with a baby, out of wedlock— and her only explanation is a visit from an angel telling her that the promised Messiah is inside her womb… Right.

Sure thing Mary.

From a worldly standpoint, she is pretty close to the bottom… BUT because of her faith— She is not only seen, and heard, but chosen.

She continues:

Put yourself in her place-----Somebody needs to hear that today— GOD is working in the low places, in the humble places, not so much in the high and powerful, wealthy and influential places!!!

If you want to be where God is working?

GO to the low places, go to those who are hurting, hungry, and in need.

Mary lacked status, power, wealth, or influence— in the world.

She faced criticism, ridicule, scorn even.

But she simply says “YES” Here I am, may it be as you said it will be!”

She realizes her low position--- BUT AH— Jesus himself would later say that he did not come for the healthy, he didn’t come to save the righteous, he came for the sick, he came to save sinners.

Luke 5:31

Like you and me.

Are you low today?—

Mary’s life is our encouragement that HE sees you, and HE LOVES YOU, and HE HAS A POWERFUL and exciting purpose for you.

Mary simply had faith and believed what the angel said— I love that she believed in a statement that Gabriel makes at the end of her conversation with him:

Luke 1:37 (ESV)

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

also— another translation of this verse from the NIV:

What has God promised to you?

What truth of his word are you holding on to today?

If you don’t know, I would suggest you ask him!

:-) Our faith is rooted in a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus— that is one thing he promised— that he would be with us, he would never leave or forsake us.

In verse 50, Mary turns a bit of a corner, and there is a shift in the song:

Luke 1:50 (ESV)

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

Mercy: eleos

kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them

Have you ever heard the difference between GRACE and MERCY?

Grace is receiving what we didn’t deserve.

Mercy is NOT receiving what we DO deserve!

Revolutionaries, the poor and the oppressed, all loved Mary and they emphasized her glorious song.

But the Magnificat has been viewed as dangerous by people in power.

Some countries — such as India, Guatemala, and Argentina — have throughout history outright banned the Magnificat from being recited in liturgy or in public.

It’s because following verses speak of Gods “great reversal”