A Song of Praise at Christmas

One of my favorite things about the holidays is the music. I can’t help but sing along every time I hear White Christmas playing, and Christmas carols at church are the best. Tears sting my eyes every Christmas Eve as we stand and sing Joy to the World while holding our candles high to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Yes, music is woven into the fabric of Christmas, and I think there is theological basis for this too. Now, you know I’m no theologian, but when I look at Luke’s account of the birth of Christ, I can’t help but notice there is music involved. It’s called the Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise.

“My soul glorifies the Lord

     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

 for he has been mindful

    of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

    for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

    holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

    from generation to generation.

 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

    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

    but 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.” (Luke 1:46-55)

Now stop and consider who it was belting out this song of praise. It was none other than Mary. Yes, Mary who would be the mother of Jesus, but at that moment, she was just Mary pledged to marry to Joseph. While it would have been scandalous at this time to be “with child” while you were betrothed, being pregnant with someone else’s child was a serious offense. Joseph could have had her stoned for turning up pregnant.

What was a girl to do? 

This girl headed to see her cousin, Elizabeth. A godly woman. A woman who could give her wise council, and when Mary walked in the door with words of greeting, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb moved. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:42-45)

It was then Mary broke into her song. I wonder if hearing Elizabeth’s words of praise to God strengthened her resolve. Did it finally sink in that what the angel had said to her was true? Out of all the women from the tribe of Judah, God chose her to be the mother of the Messiah!

What an incredible blessing, and while not knowing what the future held for her, Mary chose to lift her voice in a hymn of praise to the God of wonder. The impossible would be possible, and this young girl chose to be the Lord’s servant (Luke 1:38)

However, I think we would all agree that there was nothing easy about this for Mary, or Joseph for that matter. We like to think that following Jesus will always be easy, but he didn’t come to make things easy for us. William Barclay wrote in his commentary on the Gospel of Luke that it is “a paradox of blessedness that it confers on a person at one and the same time the greatest joy and the greatest task in all the world.”

I think we could get a big “Amen” from Mary on that statement. Indeed, God asked much of her, and like Mary, you may also find yourself in a season where he has asked much of you. If so, what will your response be?

My prayer is that you will trust God. If he has brought you to this place, there is purpose in it so humble yourself before him (James 4:10). Let God fill your heart with music, and then like Mary, raise your voice in praise and thanksgiving.  

Therefore, this Christmas go tell it on the mountain, as the song says. Go tell the world that Jesus Christ is born!

Merry Christmas, one and all!  Lisa