The Magnificat (Part 1)

"And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...'" (Luke 1:46-47 ESV)

Mary's song—the Magnificat—provides one of Scripture's most profound theological reflections on the meaning of Christ's coming. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones points out that this passage is remarkable not just for its poetic beauty but for its doctrinal depth, especially considering it came from a young woman from humble circumstances.

Lloyd-Jones observes that Mary's response to the angelic announcement begins where all true worship must begin—with personal devotion. "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Before considering the implications for Israel or the world, Mary expresses her individual response to God's gracious action. Her soul magnifies the Lord—making Him appear greater in her consciousness than anything else. Her spirit rejoices—finding its deepest satisfaction in God Himself.

The title "God my Savior" reveals Mary's understanding of her own need for salvation. Lloyd-Jones points out that this contradicts any notion that Mary was sinless. She recognizes herself as requiring the same divine rescue as any other human. The mother of the Savior acknowledges her own need for the Savior.

Mary's song celebrates a God who reverses human expectations. He scatters the proud, brings down the mighty, sends the rich away empty, while exalting the humble and filling the hungry. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this revolutionary perspective characterizes the entire Christmas narrative. God chooses not a palace but a stable, not royalty but common people, not the impressive but the overlooked.

The incarnation stands as the ultimate divine reversal—the infinite becoming finite, the eternal entering time, the creator joining the created. God's ways consistently confound human wisdom, demonstrating that salvation comes not through human achievement but divine intervention. The stable in Bethlehem represents God's rebuke to human pride.

Lloyd-Jones notes that Mary's perspective remains firmly anchored in Scripture. Her song echoes Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 2), demonstrating her deep familiarity with God's Word. The young woman chosen to bear the Messiah had clearly devoted herself to Scripture study—a reminder that God often works through those who immerse themselves in His truth.

This Christmas, let Mary's response become your own. Allow your soul to magnify the Lord rather than your circumstances, your problems, or your desires. Let your spirit rejoice in God your Savior, finding in Him your deepest satisfaction. Join Mary in celebrating the God who consistently works through the unlikely, the overlooked, and the underestimated to accomplish His sovereign purposes.