Christmas According to Luke: Mary’s Song

Preached on 12.13.09 by Dustin Neeley
Sermon Notes

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on 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 for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
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 offspring forever.”56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. Luke 1:46-56 ESV

P: Mary is a “hero” that points us to the “Hero.”

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”

Magnify = to make or declare great. 2 Ways to Magnify: A microscope (makes tiny things visible). A telescope (makes enormous things visible). This is the latter.

P: Our God is the Lord.
Are we living like this is true?

Rejoices-to exult, celebrate, rejoice greatly. The right response to the good news.

P: Our God is the Savior.
Savior-rescuer, deliverer, hero. Also shows us that she recognizes that she, herself, needs to be rescued. No immaculate conception.

Do we recognize that we need a Savior as well?

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

P: Our God is omniscient—all-knowing.
Do I know that the Lord knows me and my situations this morning?

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


P: Our God is mighty.
Mighty-Strong, mighty, powerful.
Do I live like our God is mighty?

P: Our God does great things for people.
When was the last time I ‘took inventory’ of the evidences of grace in my life?

P: Our God is holy.
Do I marvel at the greatness of His holiness? Do I seek to ‘be holy as He is holy?’

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

Mercy-not giving us the wrath that we justly deserve.

P: Our God is merciful to all who will turn from sin & trust in Him.
Have I experienced that mercy firsthand? Do I share the Good News of God’s mercy with others? “He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate”


P: Our God is Strong.
Do I know that my God is strong? Do I lean on His strength?

P: Our God humbles the exalted and exalts the humble.
Am I living in light of this truth?

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


P: Our God in generous and just.
Am I participating with Him in His generosity and justice?

“He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers,
 to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

P: Our God has a long history of faithfulness.
Do I leverage the long history of God’s faithfulness recorded in the Scriptures?

The Gospel is our only hope for responding in worship like Mary did when God intervenes in our lives.