Though the Magnificat is sometimes referred to as a Christmas song of Mary, she didn’t actually sing it after Jesus was born, but about nine months before His birth (see Luke 1:39-56).
Regardless, the significance of the song is not when she sang it, but what it is she sang. Here is an except from a sermon I preached on the Magnificat many years ago:
Mary’s song is a beautiful reminder of all that God has done for us and has promised to do for those who follow after Him. It is a new song that burst from the lips of Mary based on what she knew Scripture to say.
This song, for me, seems to end abruptly. All of a sudden, it’s just over. It stops. Maybe Mary drifted off into humming her tune. Maybe Luke didn’t record all of her song. But I think her song ended just as recorded here—with an abrupt stop.
Why? Because her song is not over. This was just the first verse of millions more to come. She sang many more stanzas throughout her life, and the men and women of God throughout time who allow the words of Scripture to penetrate their minds have added many more words to this song.
You can add your own verse too. Your life is a stanza in the greatest song ever written. You are part of a divine symphony. How are you playing your piece?
It’s like the end of the book of Acts. Acts 28 ends without any conclusion. It seems that there should be an Acts 29. And there is. There is no end to Acts, because you and I are continuing to write chapters in that book which records the acts of the Christians in the church. You and I are Acts 29, and 30, and 31 and on and on. It’s similar with Mary’s song. You and I are writing more stanzas.
“It must never be forgotten that whenever Christ has entered into the human heart, a new song has been put into the mouth of the believer. Christianity in the heart means music in the life. A religion without joy is a landscape without the sun. Christianity without the elevation of music is as an eagle with broken wings.”
Mary’s song really is beautiful, and if she actually sang it (the text reports that she “said” it (Luke 1:46), I really wish we had the music as well. This song is full of depth and beauty which reflects the heart and mind of Mary, and shows us why God chose her to be the mother of Jesus.
Click here to the rest of the sermon on Luke 1:46-55, the Song of Mary. Check out these links if you would like to learn about other Scriptures on Christmas or meditations on Mary.
