Mary's Song

[0:00] Well, good morning, everyone. So great to see you all this morning. Well, for many, many people, songs are such a big part of Christmas. Singing carols connected to the birth of Jesus is something that people do all around the world during the month of December.

[0:16] And I'm sure that we might all have our own favourite carol or carols that we love to sing at this time of the year. I think my two favourite carols are Once in Royal David's City and Joy to the World.

[0:29] I don't know. I can't really pick between those two. And I'd love to hear what your favourite carols are after the service. It would be interesting to hear what are some of your favourite carols.

[0:41] But carols, hymn songs connected to the birth of Jesus are such a big part of Christmas for many, many people. Well, this morning, we're going to look together at what must be the original carol, so to speak, or the first carol, so to speak, that was sung connected to the birth of Jesus.

[1:04] This morning, we're going to look at what is known as Mary's song. We're going to look together at the song that Mary sang when our Lord Jesus was in her womb.

[1:15] The angel Gabriel, of course, visited Mary in Nazareth. And the angel told her that she would give birth to a son, that she would give birth to the Lord Jesus.

[1:27] Well, in response to all of that, Mary needed someone to talk to. And no wonder she did. That was a lot to take in. So, Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth.

[1:41] Well, incredibly, it is while Mary is with Elizabeth, with the Lord Jesus in her womb, that she breaks out with this incredible song that is recorded in Luke chapter 1.

[1:54] And we can be so very thankful that Mary did sing out this song. We can be so very thankful that under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Mary cried out this song, because her song just reveals so much to us about what our God is like, that can be such an encouragement to us in our lives today.

[2:17] Mary's song is such a blessing, because it points us to what our God is like. And that's the interesting thing about Mary. Although Mary had a very, very important role to play in the birth of Jesus, although she was an incredible woman who did incredible things, in her song she does not sing about herself.

[2:40] In her song she does not point to herself. No, in her song Mary points to God. She sings about God and what He is like.

[2:52] And as I said, we can be so very thankful that she did, because what she sings just reveals so much to us about what our God is like, that can be a real encouragement to us in our lives, that can be a real encouragement to us this Christmas.

[3:09] So I'm going to read Luke chapter 1, verses 46 to 55, what is known as Mary's song. I'm going to read it. I'm not going to sing it. You'll be glad to hear that I'm not going to sing it.

[3:21] I'm going to read it. And then we're going to look at three things, all beginning with M, that this song reveals to us about our God.

[3:32] So here we go. Mary's song. So Mary sings out, From generation to generation, He has performed mighty deeds with His arm.

[4:09] He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things.

[4:21] He has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and His descendants forever, just as He promised our ancestors.

[4:35] And that is where Mary ends her song. So we're going to look at three things, all beginning with M, that Mary's song reveals to us about our God.

[4:49] So here we go. Firstly, Mary in her song reminds us that our God is mindful. Mary begins her song by saying, It really is a wonderful thing when someone is mindful of someone else.

[5:20] This word mindful, it points to thinking about, or caring about, or remembering. So to be mindful of someone is to think about someone, it is to care about someone, it is to remember someone.

[5:36] To be mindful of someone is to think about how someone is doing, it is to care about how someone is doing, it is to remember someone, and not to forget them.

[5:48] It is a wonderful thing when someone is mindful of us. It's a wonderful thing when someone is mindful that they will take the time to find out how we're really doing.

[6:00] You know, it's a wonderful thing when someone is mindful of us to take the time to encourage us, or to pick up the phone, or to send a message. It's a wonderful thing when someone is mindful of us to maybe give us a hand in a busy season.

[6:14] It's a wonderful thing when someone is mindful of us that they remember us and they don't forget us. It is a wonderful thing to be in someone's thoughts.

[6:27] Well, Mary here, at the beginning of her song, is highlighting that our God is mindful of her.

[6:38] For Mary here, we see in these verses that our soul glorifies the Lord, her spirit rejoices in God our Savior, because he is mindful of her.

[6:50] Mary in her song is rejoicing and glorifying the Lord because she knows that God, the creator of the universe, has her in his thoughts. He has cared for her, he's looked after her, he's encouraged her, he's never left her, he has not forgotten her.

[7:10] Even though Mary was small and insignificant in the world's eyes, she was so precious to God, so valuable to God, that he was mindful of her.

[7:23] The creator of the universe was mindful of Mary. Well, the wonderful thing for each one of us here this morning is this, God was not just mindful of Mary.

[7:40] No, he is mindful of all of his precious children, and that includes each one of us here this morning who believes. God is mindful of us all. David said in Psalm 8, for who are we that you are mindful of us, human beings that you care for us.

[7:58] God is mindful of us all. So just like Mary as his precious children, what a reason we have to rejoice this morning. What a reason we have for our spirits to rejoice when we remember that the creator of all things has us in his thoughts.

[8:17] He knows us, he cares about us, and he is always mindful of us. And that's the incredible thing. Our God is not just mindful of us at times.

[8:32] We are not just in his thoughts at times. No, he is mindful of us always. You know, as human beings, sometimes we will be mindful of others, sometimes we will be mindful of each other, and sometimes we will not.

[8:54] As human beings, we are imperfect in our mindfulness of each other. It can come and go, if truth be told. You know, sometimes we're not that mindful of each other, but not with God.

[9:09] God is never-ending and unfailing and perfect in his mindfulness of us. we are always in his thoughts. He is always alert to our situation.

[9:21] He's always aware of what's happening. He's always with us. He's always caring about us. He's always seeking to help us. He will never forget us. He is always mindful of us.

[9:32] You know, people, we will let each other down as people. We will not always feel thought of by others. Sometimes we'll feel left out by others.

[9:43] Sometimes we might feel forgotten by others. I'm sure we've all experienced those things at times, but never ever by God. He always, always has us in his thoughts, and that is what I want to encourage us to remember this morning.

[9:59] if we remember nothing else. I think that this is what the Lord has for us this morning. That he always has us in his thoughts.

[10:11] I want to encourage you. The creator of the universe has you always, always, always in his thoughts. You are always in his mind.

[10:24] Just a few verses from Psalm 139. You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You know my thoughts from afar.

[10:36] You know my going out and my laying down. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely. You are behind me and before me, and you lay your hand upon me.

[10:52] Our God is mindful of us. Well, Mary in her song also points out that our God is mighty.

[11:04] Our second M. He is not just mindful. He is always mighty. Verse 48, Mary sang out, From now on, all generations will call me blessed, for the mighty one has done great things for me.

[11:18] Holy is his name. And verse 51, he has performed mighty deeds. With his arm, he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. Mary in her song calls our God the mighty one who performs mighty deeds.

[11:37] Now this title of mighty one speaks of course of our God's ultimate power over all things. He is powerful. He is almighty. And the Bible really highlights this time and time again.

[11:48] I'm going to share just a few verses that highlights and confirms that our God is the mighty one. Genesis 49, 25, God is described as almighty. Genesis 14, 19, he is described as the creator of heaven and earth.

[12:03] Hebrews 3, 4, the builder of everything. Daniel 4, the king of heaven. Jeremiah 32, the God of all mankind. Jeremiah 10, 10, the eternal king. Isaiah 40, the everlasting God.

[12:15] Ecclesiastes 11, 5, the maker of all things. And that list just goes on and on. Our God is the mighty one. Who performs mighty deeds.

[12:27] And what an encouragement that is to us. What an encouragement it can be to us when we remember that our God is the mighty one who performs mighty deeds. Because that means that there is nothing too difficult that he cannot bring us through.

[12:44] Whatever problem we might have, whatever worry we might have, whatever issue we might have, maybe what's ever before us or what's behind us, whatever it is that's going on in our lives, maybe things we've never told to anyone else, but whatever it is that just seems so challenging to us, what an encouragement it can be to us when we remember that there is nothing that our mighty God cannot bring us through.

[13:13] If there is something in your life, in my life, that is troubling and worrying us, I just want to encourage us that our God knows about it, he cares about it, it's in his thoughts, and he is mighty in his ability to bring us through.

[13:36] There's nothing he can't bring us through. While an incredible blessing it is that our mindful God is also our mighty God because it would not be much good if he was just mindful but not mighty.

[13:51] If God was just mindful and we were in his thoughts but he couldn't do anything about it, well what's the point in that? But the fact that our mindful God is also our mighty God is a wonderful combination because that means we are in his thoughts and he's mighty to help us to bring us through.

[14:11] whatever it is that's going on. Well to add to these things one final M from Mary's song. Mary in her song also points out that our God is any guesses?

[14:28] Yes, merciful. In verse 50 Mary cries out his mercy extends to those who fear him from generation to generation. and verse 54 he has helped his servant Israel remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever just as he promised our ancestors.

[14:52] so not only is our God mindful of us always not only is he always mighty in his ability to help us and to move in our lives and to bring us through he's also merciful to us basically meaning that he does not treat us how we deserve.

[15:11] He does not treat us according to our mistakes and our weaknesses instead our God shows us his wonderful mercy and grace. And this really is a truth that I think we need to build our lives upon as believers that our God does not treat us how we deserve.

[15:31] Our God is not just waiting around for us to make a mistake so that he can just come down on top of us like a ton of bricks just to condemn us. No, that is not the heart of our God.

[15:45] Instead of treating us how we deserve according to our weaknesses and mistakes he instead shows us his mercy and grace. Let me just share one example of this.

[16:00] Jesus' very own disciples. Towards the very end of Jesus' life his disciples even after spending three years with Jesus really showed their weaknesses.

[16:12] At Gethsemane when they were meant to stay awake they fell asleep. When Jesus was arrested many of them fled and ran away. When the pressure came on Peter denied Jesus.

[16:25] And Jesus when he was crucified what did they all do? Well they all locked themselves up in a room because they were afraid for their lives. These are Jesus' disciples.

[16:37] This is what the early church was going to be based on. And towards the very end of Jesus' life his disciples really showed just how weak they were.

[16:49] Well then after Jesus rose from the grave when he rose from the grave victorious over sin death and the enemy Jesus could have at that point come to them and he could have casted them aside he could have pointed the finger at them and he could have called them a bunch of cowards a bunch of deserters he could have called them a bunch of sleepy heads he could have called them all of these things because that is what they wore and did but we see instead in Matthew chapter 28 that Jesus after he rose from the grave called them brothers he instead embraced them with love and mercy he could have casted them aside for being cowards and deniers and sleepy heads and he would have been justified to do so because this is what they wore but no that is not the heart of our God Jesus did not treat them as they deserved instead he showed them how merciful our

[17:53] God is to us in our weaknesses like when a child falls down when we fall down he's there straight away to pick us up not to condemn us but to show us his grace and his mercy and his love our God does not treat us how we deserve and of course just to mention the greatest expression of this the greatest example of this the greatest example and expression of God's mercy of him not treating us how we deserve is the cross when God the father sent his one and only son to take the punishment that we deserve so that we could be forgiven and set free on the cross God did not treat us how we deserve instead by his mercy he treated his own son so to speak how we deserve our God is merciful to us he does not treat us how we deserve and that should be music to our ears what a blessing as I said at the start songs connected to the birth of

[19:03] Jesus are such a big part of Christmas well here we have with the birth of Jesus just ahead of her Mary's incredible song about what our God is like and through her song we are reminded of these three life-giving truths that our God is mindful he is mighty and he's merciful our God is always mindful of us we are always in his thoughts he is always mighty in his ability to care for us and to bring us through anything and he's always merciful towards us he does not treat us how we deserve these truths made Mary's heart rejoice and her spirit sing well with the help of the Holy Spirit it is my prayer that these truths would do the very same thing in us as we head into this Christmas season as we head into these days and weeks ahead may these truths make our heart rejoice and our spirit sing for we have so much to be thankful for when we think of what our

[20:16] God is like and what he has done for us let's pray together yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah