You many think you know every Christmas song, but unless you were raised in a high church tradition there is one that you probably don't know. It is known as the “Magnificat” or “song of Mary” and it comes directly from Luke 1:46-55. In fact, it is one of the most ancient hymns used by the church in worship. While still used by some church traditions today during the advent season, it has fallen out of favor with most Bible believing churches due to the misplaced reverence for Mary that some churches have taught over the years. It is called a hymn or song because Mary is using a poetic form to express her deep thankfulness and praise for the blessing that God had bestowed upon her. To catch up on the background of the story, Mary learns from the angel that she will be the mother to the Messiah. This was going to be a miraculous event in that she would remain a virgin until His birth. After becoming pregnant, she visits her cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with John the Baptist. After their encounter, Mary proclaims, “My soul doth magnify the Lord” and continues her proclamation throughout the next few verses.
For those in some of the high church traditions, the idea that Mary “magnifies” the Lord has shaped their theology. To support their reverence of Mary, they have come to view this passage as describing her as some type of special conduit by which we can have better access to God. They claim that like a magnifying glass or special lense, we can see God more clearly through Mary. They use this as justification for praying and giving homage to Mary in the hopes that she will hear our prayers and bring them before Jesus Christ. However, a closer look at the Magnificat reveals that Mary is not proclaiming herself to be some type of special intercessor. Rather, she is overwhelmed by the precious gift being bestowed on her and is praising (i.e. magnifying) God for the fact that the Messiah would come into the world through her.
The true meaning behind the word “magnify” is to “esteem highly, to make great, to praise”. Mary was saying that from a deep place within her own soul she was praising God. She was giving Him the honor, reverence, praise and glory for His great and miraculous work that He had done within her. Her song or “Magnificat” echoes the words of Hannah from the Old Testament when she found out that God had rewarded her prayer with a son, the prophet Samuel. In 1 Samuel 2:1, Hannah declared “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord.”
Unlike Hannah, Mary wasn’t praying for a son or expecting a miracle, yet one was bestowed upon her. It would be the long-awaited Messiah. It would be Emmanuel, “God with us”. She would be the honored vessel to carry this baby in her womb who would become the Savior of the world. To her, magnifying the Lord meant implicitly that she wasn’t magnifying herself. This is the exact opposite of what some high church traditions teach today. She had done nothing to deserve this honor. Her financial situation would not be able to provide the finest home, clothes or luxuries for this King she would bear. There was nothing in her life that was worthy of glory or to be revered. These facts made her word of praise to God all the more powerful.
No, Mary is not some special conduit who serves as a lense by which we can see God better. She was nothing special, but God gave her a special gift. She was not worthy, but Jesus' worth was beyond measure. She would become the servant God would use to bring this baby into the world, but Jesus would become the servant that would bear the sins of the world. Let’s view Mary’s song, the Magnificat, in the sense which the Bible brings it to us. All of us, like Mary, are unworthy. We all need a Savior in Jesus Christ (v. 47). He has done great things for us and He alone is holy (v.49). He brings us mercy (v.50). He alone has strength (v.51). He exalts those of low degree and brings down the mighty (v.52). He fills the hungry (v.53). He redeems Israel (v.54).
This Christmas season, let’s remember to exalt Jesus Christ. Take the words of Mary’s song as your own. Acknowledge your own unworthiness and “magnify” the Lord!