MARY'S SONG OF JOY

Luke 1:39-40 ( ESV )

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³⁹In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,

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⁴⁰and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

·         You can almost sense the joy of this moment as young Mary had to meet with her cousin over the future birth of John and tell her about Gabriel’s message that he gave to her about Jesus. She had to rejoice with someone as she made this trek of about 60 miles to visit. (Something that gets lost in all of this is how that Elizabeth would believe her story. She herself was getting ready to give birth to a miracle in her old age. Who would believe a virgin birth? Joseph even had a problem with the story until the angel had to tell him. Yet, God in His wisdom allowed Mary to find comfort with Elizabeth.)

·         Can you imagine the joy and hope that was given to Mary when she saw Elizabeth with child? What a time of greeting this must have been.

Luke 1:41-45 ( ESV )

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⁴¹And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

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⁴²and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

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⁴³And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

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⁴⁴For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

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

·         Joy filled the room and the Lord met with them in a special way. Luke 1:15 was fulfilled right before their eyes as the John leaped inside of her womb. Not only was the baby filled with the Holy Spirit but also Elizabeth. How else did Elizabeth respond? The Messiah is coming!! With a loud cry has the idea of at the top of her voice. Focus though was not on John but on Jesus.

·         She also repeats Gabriel’s words at this moment. She did not see Mary as above other women but among them. Literally, Mary you are honored to have this child.

·         Note Elizabeth’s humility. Why should I see the Holy One and be in His mother’s presence?

·         The word for Lord is that of KURIOS or Lord a title for master or as in Ps. 110:1 the O.T. title for Messiah.

·         She noted a difference in the movement of her baby John as it was joy in his mother’s womb over this news.

·         Mary, happy are you because you committed yourself in your belief that God could do the impossible.

NOT ONLY IS JOHN AND HIS MOTHER FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT BUT ALSO MARY AS SHE NOW BRINGS FORTH PRAISES TO GOD.

Luke 1:46-48 ( ESV )

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⁴⁶And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

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⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

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⁴⁸ for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

·         Mary now says how that all that is within her brings glory to God at this moment. I will exalt His name above all names. Why could she magnify the Lord? Look at verse 47 and following…

·         She rejoiced in God her Savior. Mary was like us she needed a Savior as well to redeem her from her sin.

 She needed a deliverer.  Though she was small in the world’s eyes.  As a sinner God would still look upon her and bless her in such a way that all of the world would call her blessed. He will lift up those who have a humble and contrite heart.

Luke 1:49-53 ( ESV )

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⁴⁹ for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

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

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⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

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⁵² he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;

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⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.

·         We can praise Him not only because He is our Savior and has shown us mercy. We can also praise Him for the great things He has done for us.  (Think about how he daily works in our lives.)

·         His name is HOLY. You can say you love God but watch how the world reacts when you say that you love Jesus. Why do they respond so negatively? It is at the name of Jesus that every knee shall bow. Phil. 2:5-11

·         The word for mercy has the idea of one who is miserable and afflicted and is helped out.

·         You and I must see ourselves for who we are. We are in NEED of mercy. We cannot rely upon ourselves. We should fear Him and see our need of His tender mercies. What will happen to those who are proud and not call on His mercy? God will gain victory over the proud ones. He will spread out His enemies like the chaff from the wheat or like a defeated army.

·         Those who need not God will have it all taken away. They will have nowhere to run to or as the old song said, “You’ve got nowhere to run to Baby, Nowhere to hide.” Only the one who is humble will He lift up in the end.

·         How are we filled with good things and not sent away?  1) Physically, one day saints who died will never hunger or thirst again.  2) Spiritually, Matthew 5:6 tells us, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” God will feed our spiritual needs. I Cor. 1:26-27, “For you see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.”  WHY? So that according to I Cor. 1:29 NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE.”

Luke 1:54-55 ( ESV )

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⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

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⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

·         Mary now closes her time of praise remembering that He is a God who keeps His promises. He had kept His promises to His people Israel. He would come and reign forever and ever and the promises that he made to Abraham and others will remain true.

Luke 1:56 ( ESV )

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⁵⁶And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

·         Mary was a faithful person and for three months she helped Elizabeth until the time John was born. Remember, the same God who would make a barren womb bring forth a son would surely bring forth the Messiah into the world.