Magnificat

” And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”

Luke 1:46-47, 49

There is nothing any more precious or more awe-inspiring, than the birth of a new baby. Just ask the mother who has intentionally planned, nurtured and carried her little one safely inside for nine months and has just given birth. What a brilliant God and designer creator we have to have called and orchestrated this most astounding miracle into action for His pleasure and ours. It’s mind-boggling isn’t it? The grace miracles that He extends to us even through His designer, new-born creations! All different, all unique, yet all human, all frail, and all dependent on others. It was in this same humble way God Himself, chose to enter into the world and walk among us for a time. It was His way of becoming human, yet divine so that His plan of salvation could be attained and a lost world could be rescued from the bondage of sin. Mary gave birth to her baby, her Lord and Savior; the One who was born to die in order to bring life. This baby that she carried and birthed would erase the stain of her sin, pay her ransom and bring salvation to her people and to a lost world. This little One that she would deliver would ultimately redeem her.

To be “with child” is a grace moment, but to be “with child” with the Messiah, must have been a grace moment beyond all grace moments. Can we even imagine something so awe-inspiring yet daunting at the same time? No wonder Elizabeth’s words verses 44. 45, inspired a song in Mary’s heart. Her song of joy is the first of three songs of praise in the birth narrative, called the Magnificat; (magnifies) from the first word in the Latin translation! The coming of God’s kingdom would bring salvation to a rejected and outcast people. No wonder Mary sang in praise to Her God, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God in my Savior.”.

When Christ cleanses us and forgives and frees us from the death penalty that we so deserve, it’s a grace moment beyond all grace moments! If we know Him, we know the forgiveness and grace that abolishes the stain of sin and the joy and peace that accompanies new life in Christ! We are blessed beyond all blessing and we can say as Mary, ‘For the Mighty One has done great things for me–holy is His name.”