The Lord is Magnified

December 25, 2011

Lesson: Luke 1:39–55

Key Verse: Luke 1:46

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Introduction

Mary praises the Lord, saying, “My soul magnifies the Lord!” Mary magnifies the Lord because He is her God and Savior. The Lord has declared that He “has made a covenant” with His chosen, saying, “I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all generations” (Psalm 89:3–4). The Lord then declares that “the heavens shall praise thy wondrous works, O Lord; thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints” (Psalm 89:5). The fulfillment of God’s covenant that His Son would sit upon the throne of David as King and Savior, is in the wondrous works and faithfulness of the Lord. Our worship should always be filled with praise to our Lord. He is our King and Savior. Within the congregation of the saints, we declare the glory of God in Christ Jesus, who was born of the virgin Mary.

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Mary Visits Elizabeth—Luke 1:39–45

Mary makes haste to the home of her cousin Elizabeth. How wonderful is the work of the Spirit in the lives of His people! While the world destroys the babe in the wombs of mothers, teaching that it is just a fetus and not a person, we see the love of these cousins, Elizabeth and Mary, rejoicing in what the Lord has given them. Mary enters the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby in her womb leaped for joy. Is this not a response of a life? The word for baby is a word which indicates a person, a child. It can be used of an unborn child or a child who is born. The babe in the womb is a person! We will not abort a wonder of God’s creation!

Elizabeth is said to be filled with the Holy Spirit, from whom her joy abounds. It is in the Spirit that she cries out, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!” Then came a statement that confirmed the truth that the Lord had given to Elizabeth a direct revelation. A mystery of heaven is revealed. This is not a nice story, but a truth from the mouth of God. This is a real confrontation between Mary and Elizabeth, given to us that we may know that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God! Elizabeth testifies that, as soon as she heard the voice of Mary, “the babe leaped in my womb for joy!” God has sent His Son. His promise is complete. Nothing more is needed for our salvation, forgiveness, and life eternal.

Elizabeth hears from Mary about the visitation of the Angel of the Lord and of the promise given to Mary. The Spirit of God revealed the wonder of the baby in Mary’s womb. She said to Mary, “Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” She rejoiced in the promise of the Son who would come as the King of kings, being called the Son of God, saying, “Blessed (well thought of) is she who believed, for there will be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” When the Lord reveals His truth to us through His word, He grants the wonder of faith, whereby we believe and trust in those promises. Not only by faith are we saved through grace, but by faith through His grace do we live. The word “performance” tell us that what God has promised will successfully come to fruition. For this Christ, born of Mary, has entered into the holy of holies on our behalf, “having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb. 9:12).

Discussion: What were the results of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth?

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Mary Magnifies the Lord—Luke 1:46–55

Mary responded to Elizabeth’s confirmation and blessing of the Lord that she would be an instrument in the fulfillment of God’s promise of the coming of His Messiah, praising Him, saying, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior!” It is the song of the Psalmist, and that of every redeemed soul who belongs to our heavenly Father: “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:1–3). Let the redeemed of the Lord not be ashamed to praise the Lord, together, one with another. The shed blood of our Savior has ransomed our souls from the depths of destruction. We have this in common with Mary, this Christ who came to us through her womb, is both her Savior and ours.

Her praise also included the knowledge of God’s will in her life. She sang, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” The Lord had regarded her worthy to be His handmaiden. Therefore, in our generation, we shall call her “blessed!”  This word, “blessed” (makarizo), is used only of Mary and of the persecuted prophets: “Behold, we count them happy (blessed) who endure” (James 5:11). Mary was “blessed” in that she had known the indwelling of the Spirit of God, and was thus “fully satisfied.” May we know this blessedness, this inward happiness that comes from the truth that the will of the Lord is being done in our lives, as it is done in His heaven. The Scripture speaks of our Savior, saying, “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:9).

Mary praised the Lord, magnified God her Savior, by recalling His marvelous deeds. He had done “great things” to her, and “holy is his name.” He is the one who shows mercy upon those who fear him, displaying His marvelous grace “from generation to generation.” He has showed His strength, scattering “the proud in the imaginations of their heart.” Those who consider themselves mighty will be brought down; and those of low degree shall be exalted by Him. Those who consider themselves rich and in no need of Him, He will make empty, while He feeds the hungry with good things. He helps His Israel, His congregation, remembering His covenant of mercy. He fulfills His covenant with His people, keeping that which He promised to Abraham and his seed.

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2011 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.