This wasn’t false humility. This wasn’t a pretense of modesty. Mary really was lowly, and she knew it. She had the correct perception of herself: someone small, someone low.
In a way, Mary is us.
She is speaking for us in this beautiful passage of Scripture. We are small. We are low. And herein lies the glorious message of Christmas: the omnipotent, holy God who inhabits eternity has looked with favor on our lowliness.
He has been mindful of our lowly estate. He has been mindful of our brokenness. He has been mindful that we are despairingly lost apart from His mercy. He has been mindful of our utter helplessness. He has been mindful of our bitter oppression. He has been mindful of our pain, of the sentence of death that was awaiting us because of our sin. He has been mindful that we are nothing without Him. He has been mindful of our desperate need for a Savior.
Not only is He mindful of all of this. Not only is He keenly, attentively aware. Not only has He has looked upon our mess; no, He has looked upon us with favor, in the midst of it. With favor! And as a tiny, newborn baby, He has come down into the middle of it. He has come to right the wrongs. He has come to liberate us from our oppressors, to break every chain that binds us. He has come to heal our brokenness, to restore us to wholeness. He has come to save us from our sins. He has come to make us forever, unchangeably, His own.
As the heavenly hosts exultantly proclaimed to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14, NIV)!
Yes, dear one, you read that right. His favor rests on you! You are His favored one!
Though the phrase “Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed” has a special place in the Christmas story for just Mary… in a way, this too applies to all of us that believe on Him. When we were yet sinners, a Savior was born to us. He has called us chosen. He has called us beloved. He has called us favored. He has called us… His. Forever and ever, unspeakably blessed are we!
And so, with Mary,
Let our souls magnify the Lord!
Let our spirits rejoice in God our Savior!
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Does Daddy God always choose lowly people for His breathtaking purposes?