WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday December 22, 2019
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MARY’S PRAISE
(Glorify GOD for what HE has done)
(Luke 1:39-56)
In Luke 1,
verses 39-45 of this passage we see that, just a few days after Mary had
been visited by the archangel Gabriel, she traveled to the hill country of
Judea, to the town where Zechariah, the husband of her cousin Elizabeth lived.
When she entered their house and greeted, a now six-month pregnant Elizabeth,
the sound of her voice caused the child (John the Baptist) that her cousin was
carrying, to leap in her womb with joy.
Being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT,
Elizabeth herself gave a cry of joy and exclaimed to Mary, “You are
“blessed” (in the Greek “eulogeo”, which means “well-spoken of”) by GOD above
all other women, and your child is blessed. What an honor this is, that the
mother of my LORD should visit me! When you came in and greeted me, my baby
jumped for joy the instant I heard your voice! You are blessed because you
believed that the LORD would do what HE said” (Vs.42-45) (NLT).
Here in Luke 1:46-55, we see a passage that,
over the years, has become one of the great hymns of the Christian Church as a
whole. This passage is known world-wide as the “Magnificat”. “Magnificat” is a
term taken from the “Latin Vulgate”, the first Latin translation of the bible,
written by Jerome at the end of the fourth century A.D., and it means, “My soul
doth magnify the LORD”.
This song of praise, composed by Mary, the
mother of JESUS, praises GOD’s favor on her, and, her people (Vs. 51-55). Some
scholars tend to doubt that a young uneducated country girl, such as Mary,
could have composed such a wonderful and prophetic poem as this. However, even common
sense dictates that she, or anyone else, who knows and understands GOD in
spirit, and who is in “a close personal relationship with GOD”, and are fairly
familiar with the Old Testament passages which are alluded to in this song, is
capable of expressing these thoughts of praise that we find here.
Apparently, Mary saw herself as a part of
the GODly remnant that had served her LORD with all diligence. We see in verse
47, for instance, where she calls GOD, “my Savior”, shows she had a deep
intimate relationship and knowledge of HIM. She also speaks of GOD’s “faithfulness”,
“power”, “holiness”, and “mercy” in verses 48-50, showing that her relationship
with GOD was an experiential one.
This timeless stretch of biblical
literature, has, contained within it, “four distinct parts” which should be
noted by every reader. First, there is “great personal adoration and thanks to
GOD” (Vs. 46-48). In the biblical Greek, the word “makarizo” (mak-ar-id-zo) is
used in verse 46 for “blessed”, and it actually means “supremely blest”, or,
“beatified”. It describes, in this passage, what it is like to be “indwelt by
GOD, and thereby, fully satisfied”. Mary was completely satisfied and honored
by the wonderful, and unexpected way, in which GOD chose to use her body for
HIS purpose.
Then secondly, there is “a celebration of
GOD’s attributes” (Vs. 49-50). Mary celebrated GOD’s goodness and she cherished
all that HE had done for her, and she also appreciated the fact that HIS mercy
extended beyond her and throughout all generations, for all times.
Thirdly, we see her “acclaim GOD for
correcting “pride”, “social injustice”, and “economic disparities” (Vs. 51-53).
In these three verses we see “GOD’s three great moral revolutions”. These moral
rebellions can also be found in the make-up of the entire Word of GOD, and, in
the make-up of Christianity.
We see first of all in this segment, “GOD’s
revolution against pride (v.51), where Mary notes that, “GOD scatters
the proud and haughty ones” (NLT). When Christianity is practiced properly,
it automatically means “death” to pride. A person cannot possibly set their
life beside the life of CHRIST without, first, tearing every ounce of pride
from him, or herself.
Next, we see “GOD’s revolution against
social injustice” (v.52) where Mary says, “HE has taken the princes from
their thrones and exalted the lowly” (NLT). When Christianity is practiced
properly, it means “death” to social injustice. It puts an end to race, labels,
and prestige, because what CHRIST did for one, HE intended for all. No man is
favored in the eyes of GOD, but also, we can call no man worthless, or common,
for whom JESUS CHRIST has died. HE died for “all mankind in general”, and “all
Christians, in particular”.
And then, there is “GOD’s revolution
against economic disparity” (v.53) where Mary proclaims that, “HE has
satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands”
(NLT). When Christianity is practiced properly, it means “death” to economic
disparity and greed. A Christian society is a community of believers who dares
to have too much, while others don’t even have enough. The attitude of a
believer in CHRIST JESUS, is one that desires to have more, in order that they
may have more to give away.
In the fourth and final part (Vs. 54-55),
we see “Mary giving GOD praise for the mercy shown to Israel”. There she cites, “How GOD has helped HIS
servant Israel! HE has not forgotten HIS promise to be merciful. HE promised
our ancestors, Abraham and his children, to be merciful to them forever”
(NLT).
Even at her young age we can clearly see
that Mary knew for sure that her blessing and charge of giving birth to the SON
of GOD was not all about her, but rather, it was about a covenant promise that
was established with Abraham and her fore-fathers, long before she was ever
thought about.
It was William Barclay who wrote,
concerning this wonderful passage of scripture, that, “There is loveliness
in the Magnificat, but within that loveliness, there is also, dynamite”.
And he was right. And so Mary went on to birth our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS
CHRIST, and JESUS CHRIST birthed Christianity into the world, and Christianity
birthed a revolution in mankind against pride, social injustice, and economic
disparity, and mankind must now take up that fight, and continue that
revolution throughout the world.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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