Songs of Salvation: The Birth of Christ

 

Summary

In our exploration of the work of Christ, we delve into the profound significance of the annunciation and the birth of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary marks the beginning of a divine narrative that is celebrated through three significant songs in Luke's Gospel: the Magnificat, the Benedictus, and the Nunc Dimittis. These songs, inspired by the Holy Spirit, echo the tradition of celebrating God's redemptive acts through song, as seen throughout the Old Testament.

Mary's Magnificat is a song of humility and exaltation, where she marvels at God's choice of her, a lowly servant, to bear the Messiah. Her song reflects the reversal of worldly values, where the mighty are brought low, and the humble are exalted. It ties the birth of Jesus to the promises made to Abraham, emphasizing the continuity of God's covenantal faithfulness. The concept of "pleroma," or the fullness of time, underscores that Jesus' birth was not a random event but the culmination of divine preparation and promise.

Zacharias' Benedictus celebrates the visitation of God, highlighting the fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham. It speaks of salvation and the remission of sins, pointing to the transformative work of Christ. The imagery of God as the "Dayspring from on high" and the "Bishop of our souls" illustrates the divine oversight and illumination brought by Jesus' incarnation.

Simeon's Nunc Dimittis, sung upon seeing the infant Jesus, is a poignant acknowledgment of God's salvation prepared for all people. Simeon, having awaited the Messiah, recognizes Jesus as the "Consolation of Israel," bringing peace and revelation. Yet, this celebration is tempered by a prophetic warning to Mary about the future suffering her son will endure, foreshadowing the crucifixion and the piercing of her own soul.

These songs collectively reveal the multifaceted work of Christ, rooted in God's eternal plan and covenant, bringing redemption, reversal of worldly powers, and the fulfillment of ancient promises.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Humility and Exaltation of Mary: Mary's Magnificat reveals the profound humility and exaltation in God's choice of her as the mother of Jesus. Her song highlights the divine reversal where the lowly are lifted, and the mighty are brought down, emphasizing God's regard for the humble and His faithfulness to His promises. [04:02]

2. The Fullness of Time (Pleroma): The concept of "pleroma" signifies the perfect timing of Jesus' birth, orchestrated by God as the culmination of history's preparation. This fullness of time reflects God's meticulous planning and the fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham, demonstrating that Jesus' incarnation was a divine appointment, not an afterthought. [08:29]

3. The Visitation of God: Zacharias' Benedictus celebrates God's visitation, a divine inspection and redemption of His people. This visitation is not one of judgment but of salvation, where God fulfills His covenantal promises, bringing hope and deliverance through Jesus, the "Dayspring from on high." [11:45]

4. The Consolation of Israel: Simeon's recognition of Jesus as the "Consolation of Israel" underscores the fulfillment of Israel's longing for peace and redemption. This title for Jesus encapsulates the hope and comfort He brings, fulfilling the prophetic promises and bringing light to both Jews and Gentiles. [21:43]

5. The Prophetic Warning to Mary: While celebrating Jesus' birth, Simeon's prophecy to Mary foreshadows the suffering and division Jesus will bring. This mixed message of joy and sorrow highlights the cost of redemption and the piercing of Mary's soul, pointing to the crucifixion and the profound impact of Jesus' mission. [23:21]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:40] - The Annunciation and Birth of Jesus
- [01:33] - Songs of Celebration in Luke's Gospel
- [02:21] - The Song of Mary: Magnificat
- [03:12] - Mary's Humility and Exaltation
- [04:02] - The Divine Reversal
- [05:02] - The Power and Mercy of God
- [06:47] - Connection to Israel's History
- [08:29] - The Fullness of Time: Pleroma
- [09:27] - Anticipation of the Messiah
- [10:19] - The Overflowing Fulfillment
- [11:45] - Zacharias' Prophecy: Benedictus
- [12:42] - The Visitation of God
- [15:09] - Jesus as the Bishop of Our Souls
- [16:01] - The Covenant with Abraham Fulfilled
- [18:18] - The Remission of Sins
- [19:11] - Simeon's Song: Nunc Dimittis
- [21:43] - Jesus as the Consolation of Israel
- [23:21] - The Prophetic Warning to Mary

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Work of Christ Through the Songs of Luke

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 1:46-55 (The Magnificat)
2. Luke 1:67-79 (The Benedictus)
3. Luke 2:25-35 (The Nunc Dimittis)

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the significance of the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary, and how does it set the stage for the events that follow? [00:40]

2. How does Mary's Magnificat reflect her understanding of God's regard for the humble and His faithfulness to His promises? [04:02]

3. In Zacharias' Benedictus, what does the term "Dayspring from on high" signify about Jesus' role and mission? [18:18]

4. What does Simeon's Nunc Dimittis reveal about his expectations and the fulfillment he experiences upon seeing Jesus? [20:49]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "pleroma" or the "fullness of time" enhance our understanding of the timing of Jesus' birth in God's redemptive plan? [08:29]

2. In what ways do the songs of Mary, Zacharias, and Simeon collectively highlight the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham? [17:37]

3. How does Simeon's prophetic warning to Mary about the future suffering of Jesus add depth to the celebration of His birth? [23:21]

4. What does the imagery of God as the "Bishop of our souls" in Zacharias' song suggest about Jesus' oversight and care for His people? [15:09]

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Application Questions:

1. Mary's Magnificat speaks of God lifting the humble and bringing down the mighty. In what areas of your life do you see a need for this divine reversal? How can you align yourself with God's values of humility and exaltation? [04:02]

2. Reflect on the concept of "pleroma" and God's perfect timing. Is there a situation in your life where you are struggling to trust God's timing? How can you cultivate patience and faith in His plan? [08:29]

3. Zacharias' Benedictus celebrates God's visitation and redemption. How can you recognize and celebrate God's presence and work in your life today? [11:45]

4. Simeon recognized Jesus as the "Consolation of Israel." In what ways do you seek consolation and peace in your life? How can you turn to Jesus for true comfort and hope? [21:43]

5. Simeon's prophecy to Mary foreshadows the suffering Jesus will endure. How do you reconcile the joy of Jesus' birth with the reality of His suffering and sacrifice? How does this understanding impact your faith journey? [23:21]

6. The songs in Luke's Gospel emphasize God's faithfulness to His promises. Can you identify a promise from God that you are holding onto? How does this promise influence your daily life and decisions? [17:37]

7. Consider the role of Jesus as the "Bishop of our souls." How can you invite His guidance and oversight into your personal and spiritual life? What steps can you take to be more attuned to His direction? [15:09]

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Reversal in Mary's Magnificat
Mary's Magnificat is a profound expression of humility and exaltation, where she marvels at God's choice of her, a lowly servant, to bear the Messiah. Her song reflects a divine reversal of worldly values, where the mighty are brought low, and the humble are exalted. This reversal emphasizes God's regard for the humble and His faithfulness to His promises, tying the birth of Jesus to the promises made to Abraham. Mary's song is a testament to the continuity of God's covenantal faithfulness and the transformative power of His grace. [04:02]

Luke 1:52-53 (ESV): "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to embrace humility and trust in God's plan for exaltation, even when it seems contrary to worldly values?


Day 2: The Perfect Timing of God's Plan
The concept of "pleroma," or the fullness of time, signifies the perfect timing of Jesus' birth, orchestrated by God as the culmination of history's preparation. This fullness of time reflects God's meticulous planning and the fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham, demonstrating that Jesus' incarnation was a divine appointment, not an afterthought. The birth of Jesus is a reminder that God's timing is always perfect, even when it may not align with our own expectations. [08:29]

Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV): "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when God's timing was different from your own. How can you trust in His perfect timing in your current circumstances?


Day 3: God's Visitation Brings Redemption
Zacharias' Benedictus celebrates God's visitation, highlighting the fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham. This visitation is not one of judgment but of salvation, where God fulfills His covenantal promises, bringing hope and deliverance through Jesus, the "Dayspring from on high." The imagery of God as the "Bishop of our souls" illustrates the divine oversight and illumination brought by Jesus' incarnation, offering a transformative encounter with the divine. [11:45]

Luke 1:78-79 (ESV): "Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Reflection: How can you invite God's visitation into your life today, allowing His light to guide you through any darkness you may be facing?


Day 4: Jesus as the Consolation of Israel
Simeon's recognition of Jesus as the "Consolation of Israel" underscores the fulfillment of Israel's longing for peace and redemption. This title for Jesus encapsulates the hope and comfort He brings, fulfilling the prophetic promises and bringing light to both Jews and Gentiles. Simeon's song, the Nunc Dimittis, is a poignant acknowledgment of God's salvation prepared for all people, offering peace and revelation to those who seek Him. [21:43]

Isaiah 40:1-2 (ESV): "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins."

Reflection: In what ways can you seek and share the comfort and hope that Jesus, the Consolation of Israel, offers to those around you?


Day 5: The Prophetic Warning and the Cost of Redemption
While celebrating Jesus' birth, Simeon's prophecy to Mary foreshadows the suffering and division Jesus will bring. This mixed message of joy and sorrow highlights the cost of redemption and the piercing of Mary's soul, pointing to the crucifixion and the profound impact of Jesus' mission. The prophetic warning serves as a reminder of the sacrifices involved in following Christ and the ultimate victory that comes through His suffering. [23:21]

Luke 2:34-35 (ESV): "And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.'"

Reflection: Consider the cost of following Jesus in your own life. What sacrifices are you willing to make to align with His mission and purpose?

Quotes


We continue now with our study of the work of Christ. In our first lecture we looked at the beginning of that work being rooted all the way back in eternity in the covenant of redemption, and we saw that in the incarnation Jesus willingly subjected Himself to humiliation, making Himself of no reputation. [00:00:15]

Now, in Luke's gospel we have as part of the record, the account of three songs that are given under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and I think that's a very significant aspect that's often overlooked with respect to the work of Christ. For centuries in the Old Testament tradition whenever God would perform a particularly significant work of deliverance or rescue of redemption, that action of God in behalf of His people would be celebrated in song. [00:01:22]

Now, let's start with the song of Mary, perhaps the most famous of the three. And by the way, these songs in our tradition are known by the first word of the song in Latin. And so the first opening words of Mary's song in Latin are the words Magnificat, where she says, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit doth rejoice in God my Savior." [00:03:12]

Now, why is she magnifying God? Well, the first thing she says is this, "For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant." You can sense how Mary is overwhelmed that of all of the women in the history of the world, this peasant girl has been selected by God to be the mother of the Messiah, and it's like she's saying, "I can't get over this. He's noticed me. He has regarded me in my low estate." [00:04:02]

"And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm. He scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly." I think of a table where all the weapons of world are placed in opposition to God, and God with the strength of His right arm just simply sweeps them away with one gesture. [00:06:32]

When the New Testament speaks of Jesus' birth, it speaks of His being born in the pleroma, and that is a Greek word that, excuse the pun, is filled with meaning. The pleroma refers and is translated by the statement "the fullness of time," that the incarnation of Christ into this world was not an afterthought or an impulse that God had, and had Him born de novo like Athena out of the head of Zeus. [00:08:19]

There are similar themes found in the prophecy of Zacharias, who was the father of John the Baptist, when he was filled with the Holy Spirit and sang and the Benedictus. Listen to the words of the Benedictus. "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began." [00:11:32]

The New Testament later refers to Jesus as the Bishop of our souls, that He is our supervisor. He looks or envisions in a super way at all that is taking place in the midst of His people. And so the Jews longed for the day of the Lord when the Lord Himself would visit this planet. They feared that the visit could be a day of darkness if He came and His people weren't ready and the time of crisis and a time of judgment, but there was also the hope of the visit of God to His people to redeem them. [00:14:45]

And then he speaks of John the Baptist, "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest. You will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins." Now, we're getting a clue as to how this work of salvation is going to be accomplished, that whatever else it involves, it will include a remission of sins, a sending of our sins away from us, a removing our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west. [00:17:54]

According to the text, this venerable man, Simeon, had been promised by the Holy Ghost that he would not die until he saw the Lord's Anointed. He would not die until he personally viewed the Christ who would come. And we don't know how he lived out his days in and about the Temple, but I suspect that he came every day looking for the Messiah, but the promise was unfulfilled day in, day out, week in, week out, month, year by year. [00:19:29]

Simeon lifted up the baby, and can you imagine Joseph and Mary coming into the Temple, and they see Simeon, this old man, and he comes over and takes their baby out of their hands. And he starts to sing under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost the Nunc Dimittis, "Now let thy servant depart in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel." [00:21:43]

Israel had groaned in pain and in war and in strife and in subjection, and they looked to God for their consolation. And the consolation that God had prepared for His people was the Messiah, and this is another title for Jesus, the Consolation of Israel, the one who will bring peace, the one who will bring in His own work the tender mercy of God, that all of the hopes, all the dreams, all of the promises that had been to and through the prophets would meet in Him, a tremendous celebration. [00:23:43]

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Transcript
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