Embracing Humility: Mary's Example This Christmas

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the House of David and the virgin's name was Mary and he came to her and he said greetings o favored one the Lord is with you. [00:02:55]

And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus and he will be great and will be called the son of the most high and the Lord God will give to him the Throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. [00:03:39]

And Mary said behold I am the servant of the Lord let it be to me according to your word and the angel departed from her in those days Mary arose and went with haste Into the Hill Country to a town in Judah and she entered the house of Zachariah and greeted Elizabeth. [00:04:41]

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord and Mary said my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant and behold from now on all generations will call me blessed. [00:05:40]

For he who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is his name and his Mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation he has shown strength with his arm he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts he has brought down the mighty from their Thrones and exalted those of humble estate. [00:06:09]

He has filled the Hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty he has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his Mercy as he spoke to our fathers to Abraham and to his offspring forever so far the reading of the word of God this is a a glorious moment isn't it. [00:06:33]

Mary living in the outback something kind of like Escondido California uh Mary living in Nazareth in Galilee far from any important place um a young woman engaged not expecting anything dramatic or glorious to happen to her and suddenly there's an angel uh an angel from the very Throne of God. [00:07:20]

Mary says to the angel all I want to be known as is as a servant of the Lord how tragic that part of the church has completely missed that reality and has made Mary Queen of Heaven Mary doesn't want to be Queen of Heaven Mary wants to be a servant of the Lord Mary wants wants to serve her Lord. [00:11:33]

Elizabeth said blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of the word spoken to her how is Mary a servant she's a servant because she's committed as a Believer she asked a question of the Angel parallel to the question Zachariah had asked but Zachariah had asked in doubt and unbelief. [00:13:27]

Mary has long been a Believer she doesn't become a Believer at this moment I think the magnificant that she speaks out her her hymn of praise to God shows a heart that has long known and believed the word of God when you go home and have chance you can look up Hannah's words of of Praise in 1 Samuel. [00:14:31]

Mary is committed and Mary is contended and Mary is chosen it's an important theme here uh Luther W wrote a wonderful little Treatise on The Magnificat a very tender spiritual work I commend it to you and uh Luther in there reflects about how many contemporary Roman Catholic theologians in his time had focused on the Fiat. [00:20:08]

The real function of Mary in scripture is to be the mother of the Savior and then to point us to the Savior she never points to herself she points to the Savior and she says he is the way that's what hodegetria means she who points the way uh she points as the servant of the Lord to the Lord. [00:24:02]