Sermon Outline: 12/4/22
Song 1: Mary's Song
Text: Luke 1:26-38; 46-55
INTRODUCTION
I. MARY’S DEVOTION TO HER SAVIOR
READ: Luke 1:26-38
Favored one (one on whom it is freely bestowed) (5487)(charitoo from charis = grace) means to cause one to be the recipient of a benefit. The idea in this passage is to bestow grace or favor upon Mary. The only other NT use of charitoo is by Paul in Ephesians 1:6+ writing "to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." The idea in Ephesians is that God has extended His favor or grace to ALL BELIEVERS in Christ. Favored one is in the perfect tense which speaks of the abiding nature of this bestowal of grace which emphasizes that she is the recipient not the bestower of grace.
NET Note- She is a model saint in this passage, one who willingly receives God's benefits. The Vulgate rendering "full of grace" suggests something more of Mary as a bestower of grace, but does not make sense here contextually.
MacArthur makes an excellent point - Mary was in an extremely embarrassing and difficult position. Betrothed to Joseph, she faced the stigma of unwed motherhood. Joseph would obviously have known that the child was not his. She knew she would be accused of adultery—an offense punishable by stoning (Dt 22:13–21; cf. Jn 8:3–5). Yet she willingly and graciously submitted to the will of God. (Study Bible)
William Barclay - Mary's submission is a very lovely thing. "Whatever God says, I accept." Mary had learned to forget the world's commonest prayer -- "Thy will be changed" -- and to pray the world's greatest prayer -- "Thy will be done."
By David McCasland |(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
Though you cannot see the outcome,
Trust the Lord—He knows what’s best;
Be assured He sees your trial,
And He’s with you in your test.
—Hess
NOTE: For the Christian, testing cannot be separated from trusting.
II. MARY’S DEVOTION TO THE SCRIPTURES
READ: Luke 1:46-55
Luke 1:46-55 - "Magnificat anima mea Dominum" which means "My soul magnifies the Lord!" It is interesting that Mary's Song (Psalm) is one of the few praise psalms in the NT. Her opening words remind us of the words of David...
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. (Psalm 34:1-3)
THOUGHT - Praise is a good pattern for all of us! Like David, Mary's great desire was to magnify the Lord…NOT herself! She does this with some 20 references to God in her song. She praises God eight times for what He has done (“He has”)
NOTE: In a moment that could have been dictated by fear or drowned out by sorrow, we see Mary’s heart of praise shines forth in her devotion to the Scriptures!
And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Psalm 103:17 ESV
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,
You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
Micah 7:20 ESV
You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
CONCLUSION
1. This use of scripture is very telling of Mary because it displays a depth of understanding and knowledge of Scripture.
2. This serves as proof of her devotion to the Lord and to His Word.
3. It serves as proof that this kind of faith and devotion is possible for you and I.
4. May this season remind us that Manger is always in view of the Cross. That Christ came to save sinners. Just as Mary sang, “He has done...” several time, may we rejoice today in what our Savior has done for us!
- It is that time of year that we celebrate the birth of our Savior! This is hands down my favorite time of the year. I love the songs, the decorations, the time with family, the lights, everything!
- But one thing stands out above all of that: Jesus! Emmanuel, God is with us.
- We are going to look at 3 songs of Christmas this year. Not, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” or “White Christmas,” or “Jingle Bells,” or any of those other songs we are familiar with.
- NO, this year we will look at 3 songs or “Psalms” of praise for 3 different people that had first-hand experience with the birth of Jesus.
- We will look at
- Zechariah’s Song
- The Angel’s Song
- But today we are going to look at Mary’s Song!
- Can you imagine what it must have been like to be Mary? Can you imagine what she must have felt? What she saw? What she heard?
I. MARY’S DEVOTION TO HER SAVIOR
READ: Luke 1:26-38
Favored one (one on whom it is freely bestowed) (5487)(charitoo from charis = grace) means to cause one to be the recipient of a benefit. The idea in this passage is to bestow grace or favor upon Mary. The only other NT use of charitoo is by Paul in Ephesians 1:6+ writing "to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." The idea in Ephesians is that God has extended His favor or grace to ALL BELIEVERS in Christ. Favored one is in the perfect tense which speaks of the abiding nature of this bestowal of grace which emphasizes that she is the recipient not the bestower of grace.
NET Note- She is a model saint in this passage, one who willingly receives God's benefits. The Vulgate rendering "full of grace" suggests something more of Mary as a bestower of grace, but does not make sense here contextually.
MacArthur makes an excellent point - Mary was in an extremely embarrassing and difficult position. Betrothed to Joseph, she faced the stigma of unwed motherhood. Joseph would obviously have known that the child was not his. She knew she would be accused of adultery—an offense punishable by stoning (Dt 22:13–21; cf. Jn 8:3–5). Yet she willingly and graciously submitted to the will of God. (Study Bible)
William Barclay - Mary's submission is a very lovely thing. "Whatever God says, I accept." Mary had learned to forget the world's commonest prayer -- "Thy will be changed" -- and to pray the world's greatest prayer -- "Thy will be done."
By David McCasland |(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
Though you cannot see the outcome,
Trust the Lord—He knows what’s best;
Be assured He sees your trial,
And He’s with you in your test.
—Hess
NOTE: For the Christian, testing cannot be separated from trusting.
II. MARY’S DEVOTION TO THE SCRIPTURES
READ: Luke 1:46-55
Luke 1:46-55 - "Magnificat anima mea Dominum" which means "My soul magnifies the Lord!" It is interesting that Mary's Song (Psalm) is one of the few praise psalms in the NT. Her opening words remind us of the words of David...
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. (Psalm 34:1-3)
THOUGHT - Praise is a good pattern for all of us! Like David, Mary's great desire was to magnify the Lord…NOT herself! She does this with some 20 references to God in her song. She praises God eight times for what He has done (“He has”)
NOTE: In a moment that could have been dictated by fear or drowned out by sorrow, we see Mary’s heart of praise shines forth in her devotion to the Scriptures!
- In v. 48 of the Magnificat, we see a hint of Hannah’s words from 1 Sam 1:11;
And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
- Then in v. 50 we see hints of Genesis 12:3, and Psalm 103:17
I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Psalm 103:17 ESV
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,
- v. 51 uses Ps 89:10;
You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
- v. 52 uses elements from Job 5:11
he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
- v. 53 uses Ps 107:9;
For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
- v. 54 uses Isaiah 41:8-9
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
- v. 55 uses Gen 17:7 and Mic 7:20.
And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
Micah 7:20 ESV
You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
CONCLUSION
1. This use of scripture is very telling of Mary because it displays a depth of understanding and knowledge of Scripture.
2. This serves as proof of her devotion to the Lord and to His Word.
3. It serves as proof that this kind of faith and devotion is possible for you and I.
4. May this season remind us that Manger is always in view of the Cross. That Christ came to save sinners. Just as Mary sang, “He has done...” several time, may we rejoice today in what our Savior has done for us!
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