December 18, 2024) Dr Richard Winter shares and challenges…

Why I love the Virgin Mary is a sermon I have preached before, raising some quizzical eyebrows! For example, someone asked me, ‘Is this Catholic theology.’

One time when I mentioned I loved the Virgin Mary to a friend who was training to be a Catholic priest it made him smile. But I added that I don’t pray to her, neither do I think of Mary as a co-redemptionist with Jesus. His eyes opened wide when I explained that I think of Mary as a wonderful example of a faithful servant of God.

Mary’s Magnificat
Ever heard this term?

Well it’s Mary’s song, the immediate response of young Mary to her elder relative Elizabeth who had exclaimed, ‘You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said’ (Luke 1:46NLT).

Mary’s song of praise goes like this—
‘And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for God has looked with favour on the lowliness of the Almighty’s servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is God’s name.
God’s mercy is for those who fear God from generation to generation.
God has shown strength with God’s arm;
God has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
God has helped servant Israel, in remembrance of God’s mercy, according to the promise God made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever”’ (See Luke 1:46-55).

It is what Mary can teach us all that is so important! She is the pinnacle of the saints that are spoken about during  the season of Advent… first the shepherds, then young Joseph who moved in faith accepting the declaration  of an angel in a dream about Mary and acted as directed by that heavenly messenger.

Mary’s Journey
Consider Mary’s position in what’s been termed The Christmas Miracle. Here are some facts—

• Mary was Jewish so had the Old Testament to read.
• Not yet 21 she bravely told Joseph that the Holy Spirit had blessed her with a pregnancy.
• Now that must have been a difficult conversation, especially when she added that the babe growing within her was to be the Saviour of the world!

As we continue with the season of Advent, we’re like Mary… on a journey of anticipation and preparation. Advent, derived from the Latin word adventus meaning coming, is a time the Christian church sets aside to reflect on the miraculous Incarnation of Jesus. ‘Incarnation’ from the Latin caro— flesh— means ‘to take on flesh.’ In plain English, God assumed a human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ ie Jesus came down!

Advent grounds us in the awe and wonder of Christ’s coming, keeping us focused on the biblical truths we hold dear. Without intentional practices, it’s easy to forget the deeper meanings behind this season. Advent is a reminder.

One other thing here… the Greek word for Advent, parousia, also means coming, a person’s presence as opposed to their absence (See Philippians 2:12). It not only refers to the coming of the Messiah but also points to Christ’s second coming, reminding us that we live between these two monumental arrivals.

Advent calls us to remember that Christ was promised to come, did come, and now we hold to the blessed hope that He will soon come again! During Advent, we reflect on how the promises of hope, peace, joy, and love are being fulfilled here and now as we eagerly await Jesus’ return!

We live in the in-between, remembering the hope and promise of Jesus’ first coming and preparing our hearts and lives for His return as King of kings (Revelation 17:14).

Mary’s Song
The Magnificat, so titled by those who put chapter headings and subheadings in the Bible to assist our understanding, is more than personal praise. It’s a declaration of God’s enduring promise, revealing all He has planned through the words, ways, and works of Jesus.

Mary’s magnificent Magnificat speaks directly to those who are often overlooked and she exalts a God who lifts up the lowly and scatters the proud.

This isn’t just her personal declaration of joy but a prophetic vision of the hope that God is with us and for those who are humbled and ignored. It reminds us of the hope Mary herself clung to and the ongoing transformation God invites us to embrace today.

Over the years, perhaps we’ve focused more on the men in the Christmas story— there’s certainly no shortage of them! But we cannot overlook the significance of Mary. God chose her with intention and purpose.

• Mary comes to understand scripture’s prophetic hopes and promises in unique ways.
• Her prophetic proclamatory song teaches us in a way that elevates those often humbled.
• No mere song or personal response here, but a declaration for the marginalised.
• She speaks of God’s favour for those overlooked by society, sometimes even churches.
• There is a lot in Mary’s declaration that we need to take on board personally.
• In declaring that God lifts up the humble and scatters the proud, Mary’s song provides a prophetic vision that continues to challenge us today, especially in a world that often values power over humility, wealth over simplicity, and excess over sufficiency!

Dr Luke, known for his meticulous attention to detail, especially in his portrayal of Jesus’ coming, places Mary as an integral figure in the Advent narrative. His gospel is often considered the one that highlights women the most. It includes several stories and perspectives that emphasise the voices and roles of women in the life and ministry of Jesus.

Mary’s Response
As we reflect on Mary’s Magnificat, we are invited to become students of her faith, humility, and boldness— also her scriptural and prophetic understanding. So, let’s put it into some context…

In Luke 1:39-56, we first notice that Mary didn’t hesitate after receiving the news about herself… and her relative, Elizabeth. She immediately set out and travelled to a town in the hill country of Judah, heading straight to Zechariah’s house and was met by Elizabeth. We could learn a lot from her promptness and willingness to act!

When the older Elizabeth hears the young Mary’s greeting the baby in her womb leaps, and filled with the Holy Spirit as a result she expressed her joy, saying to Mary, ‘You are blessed by God above other women, and your child is blessed’ (Luke 1:42NLT).

Overcome with emotion, Mary had responded by singing a beautiful song of praise that declares her new understanding of the prophetic promises and hope that is coming with and through the son in her womb.

Mary’s Experiences
This song, known as the Magnificat, magnifies God and celebrates the hope, peace, joy, and love that are now coming into the world.

(i) Encounter
In her encounter with the angel, Mary begins to see scripture and the messianic promises she had known in a new light. Just like we do when we first believe in Jesus.
(ii) Enlightenment
Now Mary’s understanding of the scriptures deepens, knowing the world was changing with the fulfillment of these promises.
(iii) Exhortation
Mary’s song, then, becomes an intentional exhortative sermon that teaches us how to read the scriptures and prophetic promises through the lens of Jesus.

Jesus came to save sinners, not only to fulfill the prophecy that Israel would receive a Saviour but also the whole world because sinners are everywhere!

Mary magnifies the Lord in this song, acknowledging God’s faithfulness in lifting up the humble and fulfilling the promises for which they had long hoped. Her opening line, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord’ (Luke 1:46NKJV) expresses both adoration and recognition of her role in God’s redemptive plan.

Mary’s Remodeling
Worshipping God starts with a personal relationship. Mary provides a model for how we are to live. Just as she was called to play a role in God’s story, we are also invited to bring hope, peace, joy, and love into our communities.

Mary experienced the Holy Spirit and God calls us to experience Him too. This empowered way of living missionally sends us out as active participants in God’s work of reconciliation and restoration, especially in the places where we are rooted!

Mary’s Magnificat  is more than a joyful song. It is a prophecy. Prophecy is the Spirit of God speaking to us, through us, and with us in ways that are both forth-telling (challenging us) and foretelling (predicting what will come true).

Later in the story of missional living, Luke reminds us that the prophet Joel had foretold that in the days of the Messiah Almighty God would pour out the Holy Spirit on all people— men and women, old and young— so they could experience God’s Spirit equally, with visions and dreams (Acts 2:17-21).

This was already being fulfilled in Mary’s journey. God had poured the Holy Spirit on her (Luke 1:35), and now she is prophesying in the Spirit! Her prophetic proclamation are meant to teach us, fill us with promise, and serve as a powerful witness to the ways, words, and works of Jesus from this point on.

These things were not just for the coming Messiah’s time, but also for now and until Jesus comes again. 

In Mary’s song, the word ‘magnifies’ (megaluna) conveys her continual praise and exaltation of the Lord, highlighting her deep and ongoing celebration of God. This exultation reflects the fullness of her joy in God’s faithfulness. When she exclaims, ‘God my Saviour’ (v47), Mary acknowledges her need for salvation, recognising her humble state. The focus here is not on herself, but on God’s deliverance.

Mary’s Recognitions
Young Mary was aware of God’s work through her. This should challenge us to focus not on our own elevation, but recognise God’s redemption and the hope it brings to others. This passage invites us to reflect on our own humility, how we can find  hope in God’s promises, and how that hope is meant to transform those around us.

Mary thought of herself as a humble servant— ‘God has looked with favour on the lowliness of the Almighty’s servant’ (v48). Lowliness is tapeinosis— of low estate, humble. Jesus certainly humbled Himself!

I suggest three takeaways from Mary’s recognition of her humble state and the hope she found in God:
1. Believe in our hope in Christ
This Advent truth invites us to draw closer to God, knowing that He delights in our humble state wherever we are and we can rejoice in our yet-to-be-realised eternity. This is our certain hope— it’s ‘the already but not yet translation’ into eternity!

2. Know the call of God on us!
Opening my heart to recognising my need of God’s grace and practising His disciplines keeps me humble.

In church we learn about Christian community, taught the words and ways of God, and reminded that this is a place to serve others with compassion and love.

Mary never sat and waited for others to serve her. Yes, she was a chosen vessel of God but obviously would  find time to teach her son the scriptures, attend the temple and live within her community keeping the faith.

An old adage says: ‘When you know; you know.’ As humble servants of God, we should examine our motives, thoughts and actions. We surrender to God’s ways as we surrender to serve.

3. Influence others with hope in Jesus
Just like Mary who came to understand Jesus was the Saviour of the world we all need to embody Jesus’ mission of hope to others.

No hiding the truth in a closet but the lifting up of truth like a light on a hill! Just like Mary, we accept the locality where we are in, using it to reach out to the broken, oppressed and the uninformed.

Who is in your sphere of influence that needs to hear the truth and find God… and experience the hope He offers to those in this space?

Mary’s Example
Now you know why I say that I love the Virgin Mary! Her Magnificat expresses her hope in God’s faithfulness, recognising God’s choice of her, a humble servant.

May we  all focus on the hope that Advent brings— the belief that God is faithful to His promises, even in bleak times.

Mary’s song declares that God sees and values the humble, but also offers redemption for the world through the humble. Through Mary’s example, we find hope in God’s faithfulness, no matter how small or unnoticed we may feel.

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Dr Richard Winter pastors The Connection Church, Huntington Beach, California. Link: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com  Links: Humble Shepherds Heard It First / Three Christmas Fear Nots / Luke’s Christmas Message / Tiny Town – Stunning Significance /
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