Mary’s Song
Scripture — Luke 1:46b-55 (NRSV)
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Focus
In Luke 1, Mary celebrates the mercy of God in a song known as The Magnificat (from the first word of that song in Latin, magnificat, which means “magnifies”). As we reflect on The Magnificat, we share in Mary’s joy. We join her in rejoicing in God our Savior. We celebrate God’s mercy given in many ways, most of all in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God and son of Mary. In the season of Advent, we focus on Mary’s story in Luke 1 so that we might be prepared for a magnificent celebration of Jesus’s birth in Luke 2. Luke 1 gets us ready to sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.”
Devotion
The story of the birth of Jesus, as found in Luke 2, is one of the most familiar stories in the Bible. Even those who have never actually read this chapter of Scripture will often have some understanding of the baby Jesus born in a stable and laid in a manger. Luke 1 is less well known than Luke 2, of course, but is still an essential part of the Christmas story. It provides the historical and theological context for the birth of Jesus, highlighting the extraordinary experience of Mary, Jesus’s mother.
After the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she, though a virgin, will give birth to the Son of God, Mary sets off to visit her relative, Elizabeth. As a much older woman, Elizabeth is also miraculously pregnant, though her husband Zechariah is the baby’s father. Elizabeth’s child, whom we know as John the Baptist, will have a unique relationship with Mary’s child. John will be the one who will “prepare the way of the Lord.”
When Mary showed up unexpectedly at Elizabeth’s house, Elizabeth’s “child leaped in her womb” (1:41). She explained to Mary that “the child leaped in my womb leaped for joy.” Mary joined in the baby’s joy, saying, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (1:46-47). In Latin, the first word of this verse is magnificat, which means “magnifies.” That’s why Mary’s joyful song in Luke 1 is often called “The Magnificat.”
Mary does not magnify the Lord by making God any bigger than God already is. It’s not as if she has some sort of spiritual magnifying class. What he has is more like a mirror reflecting God’s nature and activity. Mary celebrates God’s “bigness,” especially the grandeur of God’s mercy (1:50). Divine mercy is for all who revere God, throughout the generations (1:50). God “has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy” (1:54). Mary has experienced God’s favor in a profoundly personal way, being chosen to bear God’s own Son. Thus, she exults, “the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (1:49). She goes on to celebrate God’s mercy, which is given abundantly to the “lowly” and the “hungry.” Those who are proud, powerful, and rich experience divine mercy—ironically, as judgment that can teach them to rely, not on themselves, but on God.
Mary’s reason to rejoice is unique in human history. No other person has been chosen by God to be the mother of God’s own Son. Nevertheless, we can rejoice with Mary because of what God did in and through her. Even as Mary rejoices “in God my Savior,” so can we. God has saved us through Jesus, the Son of God, who was “born of a woman” (Gal 4:4). Because of Jesus, we are adopted as God’s own children (Gal 4:5). Like Jesus, we know God as “Abba! Father!” (Gal 4:6). We are set free from slavery to sin and have become heirs of the riches of our Heavenly Father (Gal 4:7).
Thus, as we reflect on Mary’s song in Luke 1, we share in her joy. We join her by rejoicing in God our Savior. We celebrate God’s mercy given in many ways, most of all in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God and son of Mary. In the season of Advent, we focus on Mary’s story in Luke 1 so that we might be prepared for an even greater celebration of Jesus’s birth in Luke 2. Luke 1 gets us ready to sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.”
Reflect
How have you experienced God’s mercy in your life?
In the seasons of Advent and Christmas, what helps you to feel joyful?
Act
The Magnificat has been put to music in many different forms. Johann Sebastian Bach composed a rather long but glorious setting of Mary’s song (28 mins). Many years ago, I loved a more contemporary version by John Michael Talbot (3 ½ minutes). I’d encourage you to listen to one or both of these moving musical numbers.
Pray
Gracious God, with Mary, I magnify you today.
My spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior.
You looked with favor on the humility of Mary,
Choosing her to bear your Son.
Such a great thing you did for her!
Holy is your name.
Your mercy is for those who fear you
from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm;
you have scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
You have brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
You have filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: God at Work (Luke 1, 2, and 4).
Mark D. Roberts
Senior Fellow
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Fellow for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and t...