Preparing for Christmas

Preparing for Christmas Luke 1 verses 46-56
Christmas seems to get earlier every year. It was before Halloween this year that some of our neighbours started to put up their Christmas decorations - though the lights didn't go on until after Halloween was over, thankfully. Look around you in the shops and you see all sorts of advertisements for Christmas gifts etc. Christmas eve as a child is one of the most exciting nights of the year - I am sure we can all remember that feeling of anticipation of presents to be opened etc. You often hear "I can't wait till Christmas is here." Yet what are we waiting for this Christmas? What are you truly waiting for this Christmas? Think about all those who were waiting that first Christmas. There was Simeon who had waited into his old age to see the 'Messiah' of Israel come. There was Elizabeth and Zachariah who had waited into old age for the birth of their son - the forerunner of the Messiah. There were wise men in the East studying the heavens for the signs of an important event. There were shepherds on a hillside waiting for dawn to break and another day's work to begin. Life would never quite be the same for them again. There were countless faithful believers of the promise that God would send the Messiah. Then there was God the Son waiting to be born in human flesh to become Son of God. Then there was Mary and Joseph - waiting for the birth of this baby - this miraculous baby. Even God the Father was waiting for the birth of Jesus. A nine month wait from the moment the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and she conceived. Christmas has always been about waiting - the important thing is why you are waiting and what you are waiting for?
Read Luke 1 verses 46-56.  I want us to understand the significance of what we are waiting for this Christmas by understanding what Mary says here.
I want you to look at the  10 verses - from it you will see all the OT references that are contained in these 10 verses:
V46 - Psalm 34.2
V47 - Psalm 35.9
V48 - 1 Samuel 1.11
V49 - Psalm 111.9
V50 - Psalm 103.17
V51 - Psalm 89.11
V52 - Job 12.19, 5.11
V53 - 1 Samuel 2.5, Psalm 107.9
V54 - Psalm 98.3
V55 - Genesis 17.7, 19 and Micah 7.20
The whole song is also akin to Hannah's song, in 1 Samuel 2 verses 1-10, at the dedication of her son Samuel. Mary's song is a song of praise, of thanksgiving and of prophecy. Out of 102 words which compose this song, 61 are from the OT, which means roughly 60% of it is from the OT.
Verses 46-47 - Mary's intent is stated right at the beginning - her soul glorifies God because of salvation (v47). Right at the beginning we hear Mary admitting her need of a Saviour, as we all do this Christmas. In these two short phrases Mary acknowledges her sinfulness and her need of the Lord as her Saviour. The beginning of this song speaks of a habitual act - magnifying the Lord - why? Because her joy, her rejoicing is in God her Saviour - in Him alone does she rejoice and He alone she exults.
Verse 48 - Mary's 'humble estate' refers to her lowly social status and the reference to servant or handmaiden depicts one of no significance to others. Mary saw herself as a nobody, someone of no consequence, unimportant and overlooked by others. But she is not overlooked by God - He has noticed her and bestowed an immense honour on her - hence succeeding generations will call her blessed, or highly favoured by God.
Verse 49 Mary is in awe of God - the Mighty One, whose great power has brought this gift into her life. She then states God's holiness - as 'name' in Scripture refers to the whole person, character etc. Mary has experienced God's power, mercy and holiness in her life - and it has literally overwhelmed her. What can she do but praise God? The song now changes - Mary moves away from the personal pronoun and starts to speak of all generations - all will know what she knows - the grace, the mercy and the power of God because of the child that she is carrying. However, did you note the condition - those who fear Him - that is reverence Him, obey Him and submit to Him - these people will know His mercy, His grace, His salvation and His power. Mercy appears five times in these ten verses. Mercy is often overlooked when God's power and holiness are mentioned. Mercy is not the opposite of holiness. Power without mercy leads to a view of God who is a despot dictator. In Scripture when we encounter God's power, or His judgement, we also witness His mercy at work - remember that, Mary did.
Verses 51-53- Mary now recounts God's actions - note it is God who takes the initiative and who acts. There are two ways to look at these verses because the verb tense in Greek is aorist - you can see Mary looking back at what God has done in the past, or you can see Mary looking forward to what God will do in the future. It is probably appropriate to do both. Based on His past actions Mary prophecies what He will do in the future. The coming of the Messiah will, Mary states, bring about radical social upheaval and change. In these verses we have the reversal of human values, not only of Mary's day but also of our day. It is not the proud, the rich or the mighty who will have the last word - but the humble, the poor and the hungry.
Verses 54-55 in these verses Mary recalls God's covenant, which we have been following in Genesis over the last number of weeks. Mary is telling us that the arrival of the Messiah is not something new but a continuation, a completion, or bringing to fulfilment the promised covenant made with Abraham and his descendants. Here is the lamb substituted for Isaac, her is the Passover lamb of Exodus, here is the bronze serpent lifted in the desert, here is the kinsman redeemer of Ruth, the scarlet cord of Rahab, the eternal king on the throne of David, the good Shepherd of Psalm 23, the perfect man of Psalm 1, the suffering Messiah of Isaiah - we could go on. All of these are contained in these words of Mary. God is faithful to His covenant promise and the Messiah is coming.
 
 Mary changes to speak of what God has done for all people because her experience is the experience of all who believe and trust in the Mighty One - God. In one way Mary's experience is absolutely unique and yet it is lavished on us all. When we read the words we realise that many can testify to God's strong arm intervening for them, of the mighty being brought low by God, of the humble being exalted, of the hungry fed and of the rich being dismissed. Some of you reading this post could testify to God having regard for you, even though you thought of yourself as of little significance or importance.
Fear the Lord - we live in a world that has lost any real sense of the sacred. Even in church sometimes there is a loss of reverence before God. There is an arrogance sometimes about Christian worship, an over familiarity with God which has lost sight of the majesty, the power, the holiness, the wholly other - of God. We should never forget that God struck down the men who when carrying the Ark of the Covenant reached out to steady it when their carelessness meant it almost toppled over. We should remember who it is we stand before and who it is we come to worship. Mary's song says that God will bless those who fear Him. There is a correct fear of the Lord God that this Christmas we should restore in all our hearts.
God exalts the humble - this is not just speaking of social status but also of meekness of heart and spirit, a willingness to kneel before God and to listen, to be taught, to be obedient and to be aware of our need of grace. It is the humble in heart that inherit the earth and that God exalts. You want to be exalted by God then be humble in heart and in action. Humility of heart is an attitude of life, a Christian attitude of life that God exalts. Mary was humble and God highly exalted her. Daniel, a despised youth, was exalted while Nebuchadnezzer, a king, was driven from his throne a raving lunatic. Later he would come to understand that those who exalt themselves will be humbled by God. Pride is the greatest hindrance to spiritual growth and maturity. If we build thrones and climb on to them God will find a way to cast us down. It is only when we get down on our knees and humble ourselves that God will exalt us.
God fills the hungry - Mary was hungry, like Elizabeth, Zechariah, Anna and Simeon she was longing for consolation and the redemption of Jerusalem. In due time God fulfilled the promise of a Messiah and the Christ was born. Hunger is still an indispensable condition for spiritual growth and blessing. Complacency, apathy and self-satisfaction are its greatest enemies. Those who see themselves as rich and of no need of God's mercy or grace - are sent away empty handed but the hungry are filled with good things. Not unless there is hunger in our hearts for God's grace, for His mercy, for His power and for His holiness will we be filled by Him.
Mary was waiting, humble and hungry - God came and brought great blessing to her and through the birth of Jesus He brought blessing to the world. As we wait for Christmas let us do so with humility - acknowledging our need for the Saviour and with hunger for God and the things of God - that we might be filled. Amen.