The Bible keeps surprising me. Or maybe God keeps surprising me while I read the Bible. Christmas is near so I have turned to the Gospel of Luke and this time I paid attention to the words of Mary: My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. What’s so unique about these words of Mary’s song of praise, the Magnificat?

⁴⁶ Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
⁴⁷ How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
⁴⁸ For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
⁴⁹ For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.
⁵⁰ He shows mercy from generation to generation
    to all who fear him.
⁵¹ His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
    He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
⁵² He has brought down princes from their thrones
    and exalted the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away with empty hands.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel
    and remembered to be merciful.
(Luke 1:46-54, NLT)

The Magnificat is an amazing prophetic song of praise. Mary already knew in her spirit that the baby she was carrying was going to be the long-awaited Messiah. But what I had never realized before was that Mary knew she was not free of sin and needed a Savior. If Mary needed a Savior…how much more do we need it?

My spirit rejoices…

The beginning of salvation is to acknowledge our sinfulness and need for a Savior. Many keep on insisting they are good people and hence don’t need a Savior. But we all do. (Even Mary did.) And admitting this does not make us unsuccessful losers. God so loved the world that he sent Jesus to save us. So let us readily admit we need a savior. Because we desperately need one.

If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] ⁹ If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]. (1 John 1:8-9, AMP)

…in God my Savior

Once we have admitted – like Mary – our need for a Savior we can move on to rejoicing. Because Our Savior has come and redeemed us. And will come again. And just like Mary’s spirit rejoiced in God her Savior before Jesus was born, we can in our spirit rejoice in God our Savior before Jesus has come back. Because it is already true in God’s realm.

It is just a matter of time before it comes reality. Just like all the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming have become true down to the smallest details, also all the prophecies of Jesus’ second coming will come true precisely as presented in the Bible. So we have lots to celebrate on any given day.

That’s why my spirit rejoices in God my Savior no matter what’s going on in my life or the world. My Savior is alive, he loves me and will come again. The same goes for all who love Jesus and in whose hearts Jesus lives. Aren’t we blessed or what?

Gracious God,
Thank you for your amazing salvation plan.
We admit we are sinners in need of a Savior.
Come and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Thank you for rescuing us from darkness and bringing us into your marvelous light!
Our spirit rejoices in God our Savior!
Bless us however you see fit.
Use us for your glory and benefit of our neighbors.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray,
Amen

P.S.

Have you ever thought that even Mary needed a Savior? If the God-bearer needed a Savior, surely there isn’t anyone who doesn’t, right? And that is exactly what the Bible tells us: we all need a savior. So how special it is that we can soon gather to celebrate that our Savior is born! Have an amazing celebration of our newborn King! Without Christmas, there wouldn’t be Easter! Abundant blessings to you as you prepare your heart for Jesus!