Joy at the Savior’s Birth

GOLDEN TEXT: “Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.” —Luke 1:46,47

LUKE 1:46-55; 2:4-7

OF NECESSITY, Mary, the mother of Jesus, takes a prominent place in our hearts in connection with our commemoration of the birth of Jesus. Great should be the rejoicing of everyone who is used in any capacity in the outworking of the Creator’s plan for the salvation and blessing of the sin-cursed and dying race; and surely Mary was used in a wonderful way. Mary’s first knowledge that she was to be so highly honored by the God of Israel came when the angel announced to her that she was to give birth to the Savior, the Messiah, the One who was to be given “the throne of his father David”; the One who was to rule over the house of David forever; “and of his kingdom” there would be “no end.”—Luke 1:32,33

Following the Annunciation, Mary visited Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and it was to her that she poured out her heart in praise, magnifying the Lord for the great honor he had bestowed upon her. It is not necessary to conclude that she spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, even though she did express profound truths concerning the divine plan and the relationship of her unborn Son to that plan.

In connection with the now assured coming of the promised Messiah, Mary said, God “hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.” (vs. 54) God’s prophets had foretold the coming of this great One of Israel; and although the nation had not proved worthy to receive him, it would be all the more true that his coming would be an expression of divine mercy. Here Mary may have had in mind the words of the psalmist, “He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”—Ps. 98:3

In the Annunciation, as we have seen, the angel spoke of Jesus as the antitypical David, the One who would sit on David’s throne. This recalls God’s covenant of mercy to David, and the assurance that his throne would be established forever. (Isa. 55:3; II Sam. 7:12-16; Ps. 89:1-4; 27-37) It is not to be supposed that Mary understood all the details of how the messianic kingdom would be established by Jesus. It was enough to make her heart rejoice to realize merely that she was to give birth to THE One who would establish the throne of David forever.

In verse 55 of our lesson Mary speaks of the promise made to Abraham. Thus, and properly, she associated her coming child with the Abrahamic promise; that is, that through the “Seed” of Abraham all the families of the earth would be blessed. Here again she would not understand all the details involved in the outworking of the divine plan for the blessing of the people, but she rejoiced to realize that she was having a part in that plan.

Jesus was born in a “manger,” because, as the record states, “there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) There is no need to blame the innkeeper for turning Joseph and Mary away. To him they were no different from others. His inn was filled to capacity, so what could he do? He did not consciously turn away the Son of God and Savior of the world.

The circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth are in a way paradoxical. While he was born in a stable, an angel announced his birth. It would be supposed that the birth of One important enough to have it announced by an angel would first of all have been made known to the religious rulers of Israel; but God chose humble shepherds instead as the ones to whom the angel would proclaim that happy message, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”—Luke 2:10,11

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (vss. 13,14) Notice this does not say good will “among” men, but “toward” men. The thought is that through the birth of Jesus, God’s good will was being expressed toward men. First Jesus died to redeem men; and during his second presence he will reign over men to give them peace and life.

QUESTIONS

What relationship did Jesus have toward the promises God made to Abraham and David?

When will the good news of Jesus’ birth be known and appreciated by all mankind?

Explain the statement of the angels, “Good will toward men.”

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