Luke 1:39-56

Luke 1:39-56

Greatest Story Ever—Scene III

I. Truly knowing God, means truly praising God, means truly enjoying God; so we must praise God for His plan and our part in it (Vv. 39-45)

a. After receiving the amazing message from Gabriel or her miraculous pregnancy, Mary wasted no time in going to visit her relative Elizabeth, whom she was told had also carrying a special child whom God had conceived in an unlikely way. Upon Mary’s arrival, just her greeting was enough for God to manifest Himself in a powerful way, as it was the unborn baby John who was first to recognize Jesus, and in Elizabeth’s womb. As promised, John was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb, and so was Elizabeth, who got “loud” with joy and blessed Mary! Elizabeth’s blessing of Mary rightly acknowledges that Mary is blessed above all other women because of the greatness of the Son she carried, and the depth of her belief in God’s word. God had told both of these ladies that He had a plan and they would both be a part of it. They believed God’s plan before it was fulfilled, were looking for what God was doing, and when He revealed His work to them, they were quick to praise God for His work. God still has a plan, He’s still working it, and those who belong to Christ are a unique part of it. Our primary role in His plan is believing, believing is seeing, seeing is praising, and praising is enjoying, even when we don’t know all the details, still have many questions, and things don’t seem to go according to plan. (Vv. 39-45; 1 Sam. 2:1-10; Ps. 22:3; Mark 9:24; John 1:15; 3:29-30; 6:28-29; 7:28, 37; 1 Cor. 12:3; Rom. 8:15; 9:27; Gal. 4:6)

II. Truly knowing God, means truly praising God, means truly enjoying God; so we must praise God for His saving grace (Vv. 46-49)

a. Elizabeth’s praise and encouragement fills Mary with reassurance and joy, and she responds by spontaneously praising God for who He is, what He’s done, and His promises which He’s certain to keep. Mary’s praise begins, as all true praise of God must, with praise for His saving grace. Mary exalts the Lord and rejoices in Him in her soul and spirit because knows that she is a sinner in need of rescue, and that God is gracious and merciful to save. Mary’s song of praise reveals her deep knowledge of Scripture and the nature of God. When we’re truly growing to know God, we come face to face with His amazing perfection and our total imperfection. But we also grow to understand His amazing grace, and the truth of His nature as Savior. Like Mary, as we see our desperate need, we’re moved to great joy to also see that the all-powerful, limitless, and unchanging God of the universe has “regard” for us, and that He is faithful to reward our faith in Him with eternal salvation. Like Mary, all generations and even eternity will count us blessed! No amount of uncertainty or difficulty in life can change what God has done. Should we not rejoice and praise Him even more than Mary!? (Vv. 46-49; Ps. 24:5; 25:5; 34:1-3; 69:30; 95:1; 111:9; Isa. 12:1-3; 57:15; Micah 7:7; Hab. 3:18; Luke 10:20; 18:9-14; 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 5:17, 21; Eph. 2:1-9; Phil 3:20-21; Heb. 13:15)

III. Truly knowing God, means truly praising God, means truly enjoying God; so we must praise God for His sustaining grace and keeping His promises (Vv. 50-56)

a. God’s power and reach are limitless. Mary knew that the grace He’d shown her was part of His eternal plan of salvation that He had been carrying out from the beginning, and which He would faithfully continue in all humanity until completion. Even as Mary was pregnant and looking forward to the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior, her knowledge and understanding of who God is and what He had promised for His people, already moved her mind forward to the Lord’s return. She was moved with praise for God, knowing that His grace which saves, also sustains His people, and holds those who reject Him and persecute those who belong to Him accountable. God’s glorious grace turns the world upside down; the weak become strong, the humble are exalted; the fearful become courageous; the last are put first; the poor and hungry in spirit are fed, and those who think they have plenty find out they’re eternally empty. Mary’s knowledge of God, kept His past promises and actions in her mind, and colored her vision to see the world through God’s unchanging promises, and find joy in Him in all circumstances. God loves His people, had always remembered His people, and would never forget His people and promises going forward to eternity. (Vv. 50-53; Gen. 12:1-3; Exod. 2:24; 32:13; Deut. 9:27-29; Ps. 22:4-5; 23:4-6; 68:1-6; 72:11-12; 89:10b; 103:17-20; 105:7-11, 42-45; 107:9; 146:7-10; Matt. 5:1-12; 7:7-8; Luke 6:21-26; 9:23-25; 11:5-13; 16:19-31; 19:10; John 15:4-5, 11; Rom. 4:18-22; 2 Cor. 12:7-10; Phil. 1:6; 4:19; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 13:5-6; 1 Pet. 5:10; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 3:14-22; 21:1-8)