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Sabbath School Lessons by Dr. Robert LaMay

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Rejoicing in God

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December 7, 2008

Lesson: Luke 1:39-55

Key Verses: Luke 1:46-47

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Introduction

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Mary praises God, saying, “My soul magnifies the Lord!” (Luke 1:46). 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” (Ps. 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” (Ps. 89:5). The glory of God’s covenant that the Son would sit upon the throne of David as King and Savior; which reveals the wondrous works and faithfulness of the Lord. The wonder of God’s covenant is expressed in these words of our Confession: “It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man; the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Head and Saviour of His Church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world; unto whom He did from all eternity give a people, to be His seed, and to be by Him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified” (Westminster Confession, 8.1). To this God and his covenant does Mary’s soul magnify the Lord! Our worship should always be filled with praise to our Lord; for 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

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Mary makes haste to the home of her cousin Elizabeth. How wonderful is the work of the Spirit in the lives of his people. The Scripture teaches us of the marvelous life in the womb of the mother from conception to birth, revealed in 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 that 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! We will rejoice!

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Elizabeth was 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!” The truth is confirmed 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. And this confrontation between Mary and Elizabeth is 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.

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Elizabeth hears from Mary about the visitation of the Angel of the Lord and of the promise given to Mary. The Spirit of God reveals the wonder of the baby in Mary’s womb. She says to Mary, “Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” She rejoices in the promise of the Son who would come as King, 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 also by faith through his grace do we live. The word “performance” means 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).

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

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Mary Magnifies the Lord –Luke 1:46-55

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Mary responds 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!” This was 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” (Ps. 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. This Christ is the one in whom the fullness of the Godhead is revealed: “The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon Him man’s nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance” (W.C. 8.2). This Christ, very God and very man, is our only Mediator.

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Thus the praise of Mary is of heavenly support, revealing the knowledge of God’s will in her life. She sings, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” The Lord has regarded her worthy to be God’s handmaiden. Therefore, in our generation, we 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 is “Blessed” in that she has been indwelt by the Spirit of God, and thus “fully satisfied.” We can 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).

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Mary praises the Lord, magnifies God her Savior, by recalling his marvelous deeds. He has 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 their Savior will exalt those of low degree. 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 church, 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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Discussion: What can we declare about our Lord that we may praise him?

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2009 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.
 
 

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