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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 1 - HISTORICAL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRIST'S BIRTH (Luke 1:5 - 2:52)

3. Mary's Visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)


LUKE 1:46-50
46 Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord. 47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid.For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me.Holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.

Mary’s praises are the crown of the psalms of the Old Testament and a glorious beginning of all the joys of the New Testament. The Holy Spirit spoke through Mary and revealed the secrets of God’s judgment in the simple words of the Virgin. Mankind's past met in these words. Our future is made clear through the words of the Holy Spirit, and God’s church harmonizes everywhere in Mary’s song of thankfulness, for the aim of all the revelation and realization of salvation is to glorify the holy God out of an undivided heart.

Mary’s words, which reached us in the New Testament, were very few (Luke 1:34,38; 2:48; John 2:3,5). This is why her saying here deserves all our attention, wherein we find familiar statements from the Old Testament and the Psalms which indicates that the Virgin had deep insight and understood the word of her Lord, kept his words and lived them. The Holy Spirit united the treasures hidden in them for great praise to God.

Do you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit? He glorifies God and declares that man is small. The joy of the knowledge of God is so great. The peace of God covers the believer so that his soul is not proud but glorifies the Lord. As such the spirit rejoices, for the joy of God is revealed to it and no sorrow disturbs it. Do you rejoice in your mind? Are you sad? He who is sad cares for himself, but he who is glad lives for God and becomes free from his selfishness, for God is love and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Dear brother, come to your Lord so that he may fill you with his Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not found in man naturally. Mary confessed openly that God was her Savior and deliverer from her distress. Mary is not the Savior of the world. God has saved the mother of Jesus. The Holy Spirit does not lie. All those who praise themselves and others are foolish; for God shows us the sinfulness of our human nature and at the same time draws us closer to the faithful love of God.

We are not worthy to be called servants of God, for we are sinners. However, the Holy Spirit confirms to us that the Lord accepted us and overcame the sin inherited in us, by His grace. All who are highly favored bow down to the dust, worship their Savior, kiss his feet, and put themselves at his disposal for constant service. Are you an independent master and lord in your life, or a lowly servant to your Lord? Humble yourself like Mary who called herself the maidservant of the Lord. The Holy Spirit wants to break your pride and release yourself from pride.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Mary experienced this truth of the Spirit of God. When she had confessed her need of God’s salvation as the maidservant of the Lord, God exalted her so that she might receive joy for joy and grace for grace.

Yet, her way in this world was full of bitterness, she was despised and accused, for her fiancé and parents knew nothing about her miraculous conception. But God himself justified and guided her (Matthew 1:18). Her child was born in a humble stable, while the angels’ storm of praises broke out in heaven. The Magi worshiped the newborn child in the manger who fled later with his parents to Egypt. Mary stood sorrowfully under the cross of her son. Yet, she saw him who was raised from the dead prevailing and ruling the worlds. She remained together with the disciples, expecting the promise of the Father and was filled like them with the Holy Spirit of God on the Day of Pentecost. She abides in Christ forever, for he who believes in him, though he may die, yet he shall live; and all those living who believe in him shall never die. We bless Mary with all those renewed in Christ, for they live as children of God in everlasting gladness.

Dear brother, can you pronounce Mary’s words in faith? Dare to pronounce in faith the words of the Holy Spirit: “He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation” (1:49).

Mary did not take lessons in theology, but the Holy Spirit revealed to her the essence of God as merciful and holy according to her own experiences. Would that all nations accept this revelation of the Holy Spirit from the Virgin’s mouth. Our God is like a consuming fire, which burns the unrepentant. Yet, the heart of his holiness is love and nothing but love. He who follows the right way and submits to the Spirit of God accepting Christ as a Savior, will be drawn to the holiness of God’s love, for Christ’s birth had no other design but to make of you a saint filled with the love of God (Romans 5:5; Ephesians 1:4).

PRAYER: Our Holy Father, we praise you, worship you, love you, and magnify you because of your many great deeds also because you saved us in your Son Jesus Christ. You did not reject us for our faults, but sanctified us and filled us with your love. Please keep us in Christ’s humility so that we may not fall from grace, which surpasses all understanding.

QUESTION 16: How do we know that Mary was humble?

QUESTION 17: What names and attributes of God did the Virgin set out in her song?

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