I am speaking this coming Sunday (Dec 24, 2023) on Luke 1:46-56. Here are some of my own observations and applications. You can post your own thoughts about the passage in the ‘Comment’ section below. You can find the sermon videos posted here.
- The Advent Theme for this Sunday is LOVE. As you read this passage, do you sense the theme of love in these words? Although the word itself is not mentioned, I believe the whole song is soaked in the love of God.
- John says that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Everything God says and does flows from the love of God. In addition, God’s will for humans made in his image is love, love for God and love for people (Matthew 22:37-40). All that is written (‘the Law and Prophets’) hangs on this love… including this reading.
- Our understanding of love is too small. To understand what love is and does, we need to think about how Jesus loved us (1 John 3:16). Paul describes this kind of love in this way: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) With this in mind, how do we see this amazing, self-denying, other blessing love of God through Jesus in this song?
- Mary experiences God’s amazing love in these ways: (a) that God was mindful of her, and chose her despite her lowly position; (b) that God has done great things for her (choosing her to do something great); (c) how mercy is shown to those who honour God; (d) how God scatters the proud/arrogant; (e) how God brings down oppressive rulers and lifts up those humbled beneath them; (f) how God feeds the hungry with good things, but send the rich away empty; (g) how God helps and is merciful Israel, the children of Abraham, just as promised.
- These reveal God’s faithful, loyal love to ‘Israel’ and Abraham’s descendants. (as promised/covenanted). But what about the others; is God being loving to the rulers and rich, and those who do not belong to Israel?
- Does God show favoritism?