December 15, 2024
“Are We There Yet? Adventures in Advent”
Week 3 – Joy – Sing It Loud!
Luke 1:39-56
Service Overview: Mary’s song of praise echoes across generations, celebrating God’s salvation. Dive into her joy and find your voice in proclaiming His goodness and faithfulness to all.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
Background & Technical Insights:
- Mary’s hymn response to the salutation of Elisabeth took the form of a psalm of praise to God for His power, His holiness, His mercy, and His faithfulness. It is based to a large degree upon the song of Hannah after the birth of Samuel (1 Sam. 1:11; 2:1-10) and is composed almost entirely of Old Testament psalms. (Reuben Welch, Beacon Bible Expositions, Volume 3: Luke, 27)
- Humble and hungry (53) are terms that could refer simply to the pious people in Israel but more probably a reference to economic poverty and political oppression is included. The Messiah acted on their behalf by bringing in the kingdom of God with its associated blessings and by pronouncing God’s judgment on the proud (51) and rich (53), who would have been understood as owing their position to injustice. (D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary, 983)
- Joachim Jeremias, the master New Testament scholar, categorically states: “The usual age for a girl’s betrothal was between twelve and twelve and a half.” This, coupled with the custom that after betrothal the bride would live with her family for a year before formal transferal to the groom’s home, meant that Mary was just beyond puberty and that she had not even attained her adult height and figure. This is offensive to our modern, Western sensibilities. Nevertheless, a twelve-to fourteen-year-old girl was not only chosen to be the virgin mother of our Lord, but to model a godly heart and verbalize sublime spiritual realities that have challenged the greatest of saints. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 43)
- This first major song in Luke derives its name Magnificat from the first word of the Latin version of the song, which translates megalynei. NEB’s translation “Tell out . . . the greatness of the Lord” is a beautifully phrased expression of Mary’s intent. The word megalynei literally means “enlarge.” In this context it connotes the ascription of greatness to God. (Walter L. Liefeld, The Expositor’s Bible commentary: Luke, 836)
- God had saved her (Luke 1:47), which indicates that Mary was a sinner like all of us and needed to trust the Lord for her eternal salvation. Not only had He saved her, but He had also chosen her to be the mother of the Messiah (Luke 1:48). (Warren Wiersbe, Be Compassionate: Luke 1-13, 21)
What do we learn from Mary about Joy?
- How joy can be chosen despite the circumstance.
(vv. 26-34, 38 | Psalm 118:24; Hab. 3:17-18; Matt. 5:11-12; Romans 12:12; Philippians 4:4)
To grasp [Mary’s faith], we must understand that faith is more than intellectual belief. Faith is belief plus trust. Understanding this, we can discern a pattern in Mary’s celebrated faith. First, she intellectually believed what Gabriel said. She believed that the virgin birth was possible and would happen. Mary did not doubt. Second, she trusted her whole life to God’s promise. Third, this trust produced a passivity, a negation of all activity, in which she submitted to God—“Let it be to me according to your word.” And fourth, out of that passivity sprang energized activity as she immediately obeyed God’s Word—“and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah.” (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 48)
Man’s happiness was never meant to be determined by his circumstances, and that is the fatal blunder that we all tend to make… Man’s happiness depends on one thing only – and that is his relationship to God!… We cannot get it anywhere else. We must come back to the soul and to God who made it. We were made for Him, we are meant for Him, we have a correspondence with Him, and we will never come to rest until, like that needle on the compass, we strike that northern point, and there we come to rest – nowhere else. (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, I Am Not Ashamed, 82)
- How joy becomes durable when it’s rooted in God.
(vv. 46-47 | Psalm 16:11; 28:7; Isaiah 61:10; John 15:11; Rom. 15:13; Gal. 5:22; 1 Peter 1:8)
Because Mary believed the Word of God, she experienced the power of God. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Compassionate: Luke 1-13, 20)
Trying to find happiness on our own terms, rather than on the terms our Creator has built into our nature, is an exhausting and disappointing undertaking. (Ken Myers, The Pursuit of Happiness? September 2008, Tabletalk, p. 20)
- How inner joy finds its way to outward expression.
(vv. 46-55 | 2 Sam. 6:14; Psalm 33:1; 100:1-2; 126:2-3; Zeph. 3:14; Acts 16:25; Eph. 5:19)
When the heart is full of joy, it always allows its joy to escape. It is like the fountain in the marketplace; whenever it is full it runs away in streams, and so soon as it ceases to overflow, you may be quite sure that it has ceased to be full. The only full heart is the overflowing heart. (C.H. Spurgeon, The Sympathy of the Two Worlds, Sermon, Luke 15:10)
Hers was a joy that compelled her to lift her voice in a hymn of praise. The fullness of the Spirit should lead to joyful praise in our lives (Eph. 5:18–20), and so should the fullness of the Word (Col. 3:16–17). Mary’s song contains quotations from and references to the Old Testament Scriptures, especially the Psalms and the song of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1–10. Mary hid God’s Word in her heart and turned it into a song. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Compassionate: Luke 1-13, 21)
Conclusion… How do we gain the kind of joy Mary had?
- By choosing it.
(Psalm 118:24; Proverbs 17:22; 2 Cor. 6:3-10; Phil. 4:4; 1 Thes. 5:16-18; James 1:2)
Christianity is a divine project of replacing inferior joys in inferior objects with superior joys in God Himself. (John Piper, Why I Love the Apostle Paul, 162)
Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose. (C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves, 137)
- By sourcing it in God.
(Psalm 16:11; 43:4; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:2)
Joy is the serious business of Heaven. (C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm, 93)
The soul’s deepest thirst is for God Himself, who has made us so that we can never be satisfied without Him. (F.F. Bruce, The Gospel of John, 105)
God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn… That is why it is no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us happiness apart from Himself, because there is no such thing. (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 31)
We should revel in the joy of believing that God is the sum of all patience and the true essence of kindly good will. We please Him most, not by frantically trying to make ourselves good, but by throwing ourselves into His arms with all our imperfections and believing that He understands everything—and loves us still. (A. W. Tozer, Whatever Happened to Worship, 29)
- By expressing it.
(2 Samuel 6:14; Psalm 96:1; 98:4; 126:2-3; Isaiah 12:5-6; Zephaniah 3:14; Luke 1:46-47; Acts 16:25; Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 13:15)
John leapt because he was overcome with the emotion of joy. The more exact sense is that he “leaped with delight.” Do not miss the point: this fetus, yet to see the light of the world, experienced the emotion of joyous delight. This is incontrovertible testimony to the pre-birth personhood of John the Baptist. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 45)
Pursuing joy in God and praising God are not separate acts. (John Piper, The Dangerous Duty of Delight, 24)
If Christ came that we might have joy (life to the full), if the Holy Spirit is at work in us to produce joy, then it is a contradiction of God’s purpose for us when we are not joyful. (Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, 117-118)
Enjoyment empowers effort. Doing is the fruit of delighting. Performance is energized by pleasure. (Sam Storms, One Thing, 142)
We can’t say that our joy depends on our emotion, but don’t buy for a minute that Christian joy is devoid of emotion! (Steve Swartz, Strength in the River, 34)
Gospel Connection…
True joy is ultimately found in Jesus, who came to reconcile us to God and offer lasting joy; despite any circumstance.
(Isaiah 61:10; John 15:11; 16:22; Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 1 Peter 1:8-9)
An attitude that releases joy begins with your knowing Christ in a personal way and allowing Him to take the blows of life for you. (Charles Swindoll, Laugh Again, 87)
The glory of the Christian faith is that the Christ who died for our sins rose again for our justification. We should joyfully remember His birth and gratefully muse on His dying, but the crown of all our hopes is with Him at the Father’s right hand. (A. W. Tozer, The Radical Cross, 13)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Mary’s joy was expressed in her song (Luke 1:46-55). What does her response to God’s plan reveal about choosing joy even in uncertain circumstances?
- Mary’s joy was rooted in her relationship with God. What are some practical ways we can cultivate joy by staying rooted in God?
- In Luke 1:49, Mary says, “For the Mighty One has done great things for me.” How does remembering what God has done in your life help you choose joy?
- Mary expressed her joy outwardly through her song. Why do you think outward expressions of joy (like worship, testimony, or celebration) are important for our faith and the faith of others?
- What are some circumstances in your life right now where you need to actively choose joy? How can the group pray for you in this?
- If true joy is ultimately found in Jesus, what are some ways we can help each other stay focused on Him amid the distractions and difficulties of life?
Quotes to note…
Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience. We need to be light-hearted in what we do to avoid taking ourselves too seriously. It is a cheerful revolt against self and pride. (Richard J. Foster, Freedom of Simplicity, 120)
The true Christian is one who knows God’s power working in himself, and finds it his true joy to have the very life of God flow into him, and through him, and out from him to those around. (Andrew Murray, Working for God, 30)
As a fetus of six months, John was an emotional being. He had the capacity to be filled with the Spirit. He was so overcome that he leapt for joy. This is a sobering revelation for anyone who countenances abortion, but especially for Christians. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 45)
How beautiful the response of Mary to the overwhelming word of the divine messenger: a profound act of submission and surrender by which she became the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit! In her humility she opposed the pride of Eve, and in her selfless obedience she became the one through whom the ancient promise made to Eve was finally fulfilled (Gen. 3:15). (Reuben Welch, Beacon Bible Expositions, Volume 3: Luke, 26)
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice” (Phi 4:4). All our joy must terminate in God; and our thoughts of God must be delightful thoughts. Delight thyself in the Lord (Psm. 37:4)… Observe, it is our duty and privilege to rejoice in God, and to rejoice in Him always; at all times, in all conditions; even when we suffer for Him, or are afflicted by Him. We must not think the worse of Him or of His ways for the hardships we meet with in His service. There is enough in God to furnish us with matter of joy in the worst circumstance on earth… Joy in God is a duty of great consequence in the Christian life; and Christians need to be again and again called to it. (Matthew Henry, Commentary, Philippians 4:4)
God is not a cosmic killjoy. I know some people who believe He is. They think God runs around saying, “There’s one having fun; get him!” They believe God wants to rain on everybody’s parade. But that isn’t so. God made you. He knows how you operate best. And He knows what makes you happy. The happiness He gives doesn’t stop when the party’s over. It lasts because it comes from deep within. (John MacArthur, You Can Trust the Bible, 19)
To say that worship is either about glorifying God or finding personal satisfaction is to put asunder what God has joined together. His glory and your gladness are not separate tracks moving in opposite directions. Rather His glory is in your gladness in Him. (Sam Storms, Pleasures Evermore, 211)