Special: Luke 1 "My Soul Magnifies the Lord."

Merry Christmas!

Welcome to Calvary Chapel Lake City. Thank you for joining us tonight as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior… Jesus Christ!

If you would please turn with me to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1. If you do not have a Bible please raise your hand and an usher will bring one around to you.

Tonight and Sunday, we are going to be in the Gospel of Luke looking at the birth of Christ.

Tonight I am going to share excerpts mostly from Luke 1, centering our attention upon what we observe of our Lord’s birth and what scripture mentions about Mary.

Sunday, Ty will be sharing the account of Jesus’ birth starting in Luke 2.

Both Ty and I will be reading from the Gospel of Luke because Luke, while he was not a direct Apostle, he did a fantastic job interviewing first-hand eye witnesses of Jesus’ ministry, and recorded those event with great detail. The first 4 verses of Luke’s gospel testify of this.

And, Luke has the most thorough account of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.

What a privilege Luke had… to interview Mary… the mother of the Christ. To hear her testimony about the visit from Gabriel… her pregnancy… the birth… her heart… her poem/her song… the Magnificat...

We’ll look at these things tonight… and try to do them biblical justice. And, what I mean… is we will try to represent the birth account accurately as recorded in scripture.

I remember, as a child… each Christmas the manger scene would be set up in my home, and my mom would point out the various people and animals in the scene. And, there would always be this moment… “And, look… there’s Jesus in the manger.”

And, my mom never said the manger was great, but there was this impression on my young heart that this a “cute scene”… maybe even glamorous because after-all three kings were right there in the manger bringing gifts. I’m not sure why they were there, but there they were.

But, there was nothing cute or glamorous about the birth of our Lord. It was a hard birth… it was a trial… many people today would think God forsook them if they lived those circumstances… they might question His promises.

What’s astounding is we don’t read that Mary doubted. She was steadfast. She is an inspiration to hold tight to God’s promises… to hold tight to our faith, no matter our circumstances.

And, that’s why I titled tonight’s message, “My Soul Magnifies the Lord.”

Let’s pick up in V25 of Luke chapter 1, but first...

Let’s Pray!

Luke 1:25 “Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy… Mary’s relative and the mother of John the Baptist/ the forerunner of Christ] the angel [the messenger] Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. [we talked about the Betrothal period in a Jewish wedding a few weeks ago… this is similar to our engagement period, but legally binding] The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

V28 is noteworthy. There is an accurate way to look at Mary…

...not to elevate her as co-redemptress to Jesus (she’s not that)…

...not to pray to her instead of directly to God (no need to do that).

Eph 2:18 states, “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

The veil was torn… we have direct access to the Father through Jesus Christ… we don’t need to pray to Mary.

But, Mary is also not to be looked down upon. Some Catholics elevate her too high, and some Protestants degrade her.

Don’t do that… later in heaven, you’ll probably want to hear stories about Jesus as a child, I know I will… and, who better to go to than Mary?

And, don’t say Joseph. When it comes to telling a story about another person, women are better at it.

And, I mean that as a compliment. Take me for example, let’s say I met someone and my wife wanted to hear about the encounter. I only remember a couple details initially. But, she knows an hour later I’m going to remember 2 or 3 more details. But, she could remember everything… every detail.

Mary’s going to be a much better story teller in heaven then Joseph… so be nice to her now.

And, what did Gabriel say in V28… Mary was “highly favored.” She was told “…the Lord is with you...” and “blessed are you among women!”

Why did Gabriel say these things? Why is she blessed? Why should she rejoice?

While Mary was pretty spectacular… that not why. She was blessed because she was chosen to bring forth Jesus.

The most magnificent things about any of us… is not our gifts or talents… our good looks or our great personalities… we are blessed because of our connection to Christ.

1 Pet 2:9 states, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...”

Like Mary, we have been chosen. Because of our standing with Jesus… we are royalty… a holy nation… Jesus’ own special people… all which are descriptions formerly exclusive to Israel, but now apply to any saint that abides in Christ.

And, as a result… we are to proclaim praises to Him.

And, I don’t know about you, but as Peter wrote… I know I was in darkness and He indeed called me out of that dark lifestyle in His marvelous light...

I concur with Peter and John as they refused, in Acts, to stop speaking in Jesus’ name. Acts 4:20 reads, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

When Jesus calls you “out of darkness, into His marvelous light” … when you see miracles and hear teachings and truths that go beyond the natural … that stretch into the supernatural… into the eternal… ‘you cannot but speak the things you have seen and heard.’

And, Mary has a tremendous testimony of things she saw and heard… for example… V29…

Luke 1:29-33 “But when she saw him [Gabriel], she was troubled [perplexed] at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. [I love how introspective Mary was… she’s kind of the opposite of Peter who spoke before he thought] 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

Which means “Jehovah is salvation” or “Savior.” Matthew adds “for He will save His people from their sins.” That’s what the Savior does. And, while everyone NEEDS the Savior, not everyone WANTS the Savior. Pride, hard-heartedness, idolatry… these are great hindrances… stumbling many from eternity… from coming to Jesus.

V32 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. [fulfilling the Davidic Covenant] 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” [and we have been studying that eschatology over the past 6 weeks].

Matt 1:22-23 records, “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet [quoting Isa 7:14], saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Jesus’ birth fulfilled prophecy foretold some 700 years prior… very specific prophecies exactly fulfilled in the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ… which gives us every reason to believe all these things are 100% true.

V34 “Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Mary’s question was legitimate… it was not a question imbedded in doubt.

Back in Luke 1:18, the father of John the Baptist… Zacharias did doubt regarding Elizabeth being able to miraculously conceive in her old age... and look at the contrast of how Gabriel responds to him... “And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

So, I guess the application here is if the angel Gabriel… or really any angel... appears to you and tells you God is going to do something miraculous in your life, don’t doubt.

If you are a woman in the audience tonight, you should be feeling pretty good… you’ve been acknowledged as better listeners… and now this… Mary the teenager demonstrating greater faith than Zacharias the seasoned priest.

Look again at V35… I love Gabriel’s answer to Mary. She asks “How can this be…?” and he responds, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you… ”

How can this impossible thing happen? - The Holy Spirit.

We look at impossible situations and ask the same question.

But, how will God work in this impossible situation? -The Holy Spirit.

Gabriel answers the question enough for Mary to understand that God will move and make it happen… it will be His miraculous power that overshadows her, but she is not given all the details. She will still need to trust and walk in faith.

And, she does. She trusts God… and she walks in faith despite some very difficult circumstances.

Which began with all the implications for her betrothal with Joseph.

Because of her miraculous conception, it appeared as if Mary was unfaithful. Joseph could have had Mary stoned to death or he could have legally divorced her (which he was planning to do).

According to Deut 22, an unfaithful wife was to be stoned, and a man could also be stoned for sexual impurity. The law was very serious that fornication was disgraceful and evil. There was no place for this evil in Israel, and the death penalty was permitted.

Joseph was not going to have Mary stoned, but he did plan to divorce her, which Deut 24 permitted “for uncleanness.”

But, here’s what we read in Matt 1:18-21 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together [speaking about marriage and physical intimacy], she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away [divorce her] secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

As Mary obeyed God allowing the Holy Spirit to come upon her… her obedience almost cost her her husband, and could have cost her her life.

Sometimes following God will cost you. Mary experienced this first hand. Miraculously, an angel appeared to Joseph which saved their marriage, but there was still cost.

Especially to her reputation. In John 8, Jesus was going back and forth with the Pharisees, and they make a statement…which seems a smear against Mary… they state, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”

Mary was right in the center of God’s will… she was obedient… and still the birth of our Savior came with cost. There was a sacrifice.

Sometimes we question God’s presence when we are living a life dedicated to Him and trials or tribulations come.

We ask… where is God? Does He love me? How could He allow this?

Mary was faithful and didn’t doubt, despite the trials.

After the cross, Jesus would tell His disciples, “… lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

He’s right there in the boat with us… He’s in the middle of our storms of life…

I reminded of how similar we are to the disciples when they were crossing the Sea of Galilee when a storm came… they pleaded to Jesus, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

Luke 8:24-25 records Jesus, “… arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

Where is your faith?

When Mary was told by Gabriel that she, a virgin, would bear the Son of the Most High… knowing she was betrothed… knowing she could lose her husband and very life… she didn’t doubt.

Actually, Luke 1:38 records her response, “Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”

She submitted her life into the hands of God.

And, while Mary experienced sacrifice and cost, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the tremendous cost to Jesus Himself…

Consider where He is is from…

Jesus said in John 3:13 “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.”

Jesus is from heaven and came to earth. Stepping out of eternity into the temporal is sacrifice.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus was in the beginning with God… He came from eternity and became flesh… to dwell or tabernacle among us...

Consider who Jesus is…

Heb 1:1-3 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; [V3 describes Jesus as…| ...being the brightness [the radiance] of His glory and the express image of His person…”

Jesus is the heir of all things… He made the worlds/the universe… He is the perfect reflection of God.

Consider Jesus’ submission and what He did in His incarnation …

Jesus said in John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

God purposed Jesus to come from heaven to sacrificially die… so our sin would not separate us from Him. Jesus came to redeem us… to restore our relationship with God… and He did it in His birth and at the cross.

This was a tremendous sacrifice. From birth to death there was sacrifice… and in His life… He knows what we experience… He knows the trials of life…

Heb 4:15 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

He’s with us… always, even until the end of the age…He never leaves us nor forsakes us… and He ‘get’s us’ … He knows. He knows.

The account continues…

Luke 1:39 “Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Pre-Pentecost believers were filled with the Holy Spirit for specific tasks. In V67 Zacharias was also filled with the Holy Spirit… so this gives you an idea of John’s the Baptists upbringing… raised in a home with two spirit-filled parents…

And, look what John accomplished in his life and ministry.

As the forerunner to Christ, He announced the Messiah to the world… and prepared the hearts of thousands of people to receive him.

Jesus said, “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist...” And, that was not because of John, but because of the privilege John had in beholding Jesus… all the other OT prophets spoke of and pointed to Christ. But, John beheld Jesus.

John was a man raised by two spirit-filled parents.

Parents… be spirit-filled. Your children will be able to accomplish great things for the Lord if they are raised in that kind of household.

And, as believers today… in these days where society calls “evil good, and good evil”… we need more children raised in spirit-filled homes… as Esther said, “for such a time as this.”

Continuing in V42...

Luke 1:42 “Then she [Elizabeth] spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [Humility] 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Elizabeth draws attention to the faith of Mary and the faithfulness of God. He will fulfill His promises.

Ps 119:89-90 reads, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.”

Generation upon generation waited for the coming Messiah, and He came some 2000 years ago born as a baby.

God was faithful. He promised a Savior… the Messiah… and Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

And, today we live awaiting His return again. And, He will be faithful again, as He always has been.

Mary knew this… we see this in her declaration of God’s greatness… what we call “The Magnificat.”

Mary’s song, starting in V46, is filled with OT allusions, especially Hannah’s prayer in 1 Sam 2:1-10, and it show us Mary’s reverence towards and knowledge of scripture. She was an exceptional young lady with great qualities… a great choice to be the mother of our Lord.

Her song is one that testifies of God’s faithfulness, His character, His justice on the proud, His compassion for the least, and His eye on His people.

Look at V46...

Luke 1:46 “And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth 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 on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

This is a marvelous song and declaration of the greatness of God and a true testimony to the character of Mary.

Further, as we follow her story… life does not get easier… trials are ahead.

You see… Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth. But, according to Mic 5:2 Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Mic 5:2 reads, “But you, Bethlehem Eph-rath-ah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

And, so in God’s sovereignty, we see Him move upon Caesar Augustus in Luke 2 to call for a census. Everyone must return to his own city… which for David was Bethlehem.

And, I don’t want to dip to far into Luke 2 because Ty will be covering those verses on Sunday, but let me say this.

Mary was in her third trimester and had to make about an 80-90 mile journey from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem which is just south of Jerusalem in Judea.

At best she travelled on donkey, and when they arrived… they had no place to stay, and the baby was coming.

She had no medical care… no midwife… no anesthetic… she delivers in a place normally where animals would stay.

The Savior… God incarnate was laid in a manger… a feeding trough for animals.

What we don’t read was Mary questioning God… we don’t read that Mary felt forsaken by God… we don’t read that she doubted.

Imagine this trial… third trimester of pregnancy… now walk or ride on a donkey for 90 miles… expecting a place to stay, but finding none… forced to deliver your baby in a place for animals without medical care…

As a pregnant mom or as a protective husband, how would you feel? Would you question… or feel abandoned by God?

How would you respond? Would you doubt?

There is NO record that Mary or Joseph did either of these.

After the birth, Shepherds come… a most interesting first group of visitors… “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” is first visited by Shepherds.

Heavenly hosts appear praising God.

And, we read in Lk 2:19 “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

She reflects or meditates upon the moment.

On the eighth day, in Jerusalem, Simeon (a man known to be just and devout…to be right on the horizontal and on the vertical… a man living in immanency… expecting the coming Messiah)…

Simeon was led by the Spirit into the temple and when he saw Jesus we read, Luke 2:28-33, “… he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” [and notice the response of Joseph and Mary] 33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.”

Earlier we read, Mary wondered and asked Gabriel, “How can these things be?”

We read she, “… kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

We read she, “… marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.”

We didn’t read that she ever lost faith… we didn’t read that she ever doubted.

The physical circumstances around the birth of our Lord and Savior were not easy.

And, for some of you today, life is not easy at present. Some of you are facing difficult circumstances… making this a hard Christmas. There are trials or tribulations you are experiencing in this season.

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration where we remember our Savior who came from heaven to redeem mankind.

And, it IS that.

But, it may not feel that way today.... for those of you who are going through a trial… and that’s real.

I believe Mary could relate. There was this tension between amazing spiritual happenings and very real physical trials for her surrounding the birth of our Lord.

And, sometimes that’s the reality of life.

I would encourage you to meditate upon and emulate what we have recorded in scripture about Mary’s heart of obedience… her attitude- declaring the greatness of God… and her steadfast faithfulness with no doubting.

Christmas is a reminder to us that God left heaven in love for you and I and all who accept… all who believe in Him will be saved.

Salvation is the best gift you can receive this Christmas.

Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us.”

And, let it be etched in eternity that your life reflects those words of Mary’s song, “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”

Let’s Pray!

Thank you for joining us tonight.

If you have never received the free gift of salvation and would like to, it starts with just praying that you believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior. I’d be happy to pray with you and give you a Bible tonight.

Have a very Merry and blessed Christmas. God is with us!