Luke 1:46–47 (ESV) … “And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”
This song is the outpouring of praise from a humble heart. When we think of how many people have tried to make Mary almost a goddess (‘Queen of Heaven’), this song reveals that her focus is not on herself, but on the blessings granted to her. Her opening words are beautiful: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour …’ (v. 46). Mary wanted God to have all the praise. Some have claimed that, in order to give birth to the Lord Jesus, Mary must have been without sin. Yet she calls God her ‘Saviour’, thus recognizing that she herself was a sinner whom God had saved.
Mary’s song introduces us to the saving work of the Lord Jesus—the one who would minister particularly among the poor, the humble and the unknown.[1]
Mary’s faith displayed itself in praise. In a song resembling Hannah’s in 1 Samuel 2, Mary praised God for his great acts for her. Her praise included two actions: giving glory to God and rejoicing in the presence and actions of God. The Lord had looked down on Mary with loving care. He saw the low economic and social state in which she lived. Such a state would be short-lived. God had placed her in a state of blessing. Because of her son, humiliation would disappear. From now on throughout all history people would recognize who she was and the state of blessing she occupied. She did nothing to earn or deserve this. The almighty God had caused it with his mighty acts. So praise him. Call him holy. See him as the transcendent God so uniquely pure and separated from sinful humans.[2]
[1] Childress, G. (2006). Opening up Luke’s Gospel (p. 18). Leominster: Day One Publications.
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