46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. LUKE 1:46-49
Chapter CONTEXT from MHCC: The narrative which this evangelist gives us (or rather God by him) of the life of Christ begins earlier than either Matthew or Mark. We have reason to thank God for them all, as we have for all the gifts and graces of Christ’s ministers, which in one make up what is wanting in the other, while all put together make a harmony. In this chapter we have, I. Luke’s preface to his gospel, or his epistle dedicatory to his friend Theophilus (v. 1-4). II. The prophecy and history of the conception of John Baptist, who was Christ’s forerunner (v. 5-25). The annunciation of the virgin Mary, or the notice given to her that she should be the mother of the Messiah (v. 26-38). IV. The interview between Mary the mother of Jesus and Elisabeth the mother of John, when they were both with child of those pregnant births, and the prophecies they both uttered upon that occasion (v. 39-56). V. The birth and circumcision of John Baptist, six months before the birth of Christ (v. 57-66). VI. Zacharias’s song of praise, in thankfulness for the birth of John, and in prospect of the birth of Jesus (v. 67-79). VII. A short account of John Baptist’s infancy (v. 80). And these do more than give us an entertaining narrative; they will lead us into the understanding of the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
As we draw closer to the date we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ it is good to remember the unassuming way He (the Triune God Himself) chose to enter the world as flesh. It was without fan fair, to a handmaiden of low estate v.48.
In our text, Mary says that future generations will call her blessed, not because she is “Holy” but because she, this lowly handmaiden, was chosen to bare the Saviour of the world. Note that Mary needed Christ as much as the next person. She acknowledges this in v.49 declaring He (the son she will bare) will be called Holy.
The Christmas Bible Story: Read the Nativity of Jesus in Scripture
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