Luke 1: 46 -55
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
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.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A+46+-+55&version=ESV
When the angel Gabriel came to visit Mary as told in Luke 1:28 – 38, he brought her good news of a Savior that would be born to her through the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Highest would overshadow her and she would conceive a son who would be the Savior of the world. At this Mary was honored and willing to do as the Lord had instructed her through Gabriel. She was obedient even though she did not know the entire story yet. Have you ever been there? Have you ever taken a step of faith not knowing what was to come?
Mary then visited her pregnant relative who had conceived in her very old age, another miracle of God. Elizabeth confirmed through the workings of the Holy Spirit that Mary was carrying a very special baby. Once this interaction was completed, Mary began her song of praise the Lord God Almighty, Luke 1: 46-55, as you read at the beginning of this blog.
Mary had no idea at this point that this Son would be rejected, crucified, and buried. She had no idea that He would suffer for the sake of mankind, that He would take the weight of the sin of the world on His shoulders, and that he would rise again in all His glory, nor did she know that He would ascend into Heaven, going to prepare a place for those who believe and trust upon Him.
Not until she encountered Simeon had she even heard of the heartache this Son would impose upon her. As told in
Luke 2: 34-35.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A34-35&version=ESV
I find it interesting that Simeon addressed Mary and not Joseph in this encounter. Could it be because Joseph would not be around for this part of the life of Jesus?
She didn’t know when Gabriel came, she most likely didn’t understand when Simeon spoke, but she was obedient to God in her willingness to conceive, she felt honored that He chose her. She wept at the foot of the cross even after pondering all this in her heart. She was most likely heartbroken, confused, and surely frustrated at times yet she trusted.
Have you ever been there? You don’t quite see the whole picture, you wonder if you understood God correctly. Hold on to what you know, trust the One you serve, and be obedient to His calling. In the end we will know and we will understand but for now, remember, it is not always as it seems.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
