Birth of Christ - The Magnificat

By Nick Bibile

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; [4] What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?    Psalm 8:3-4

Historical Background.

The Word of God is silent for about 400 years between the writing of the last book of the Old Testament and the birth of JesusReligious background

The Sadducees

Sadducees was a religious group during the time of Jesus. They were the aristocrats. Most of them were rich and lived near the temple, most of them were priests. They believed only in the written law not the oral law of God, meaning only the five books of the Old Testament. They denied the doctrine of resurrection and did not believe in angels.

The Pharisees

Pharisees were mostly middle-class businessmen, and therefore were in contact with the common man. The Pharisees were held in much higher esteem by the common man than the Sadducees. Originally they were a group who wanted to be righteous before God and they began in the right way but during the time of Jesus they added traditions to the word of God.

Political background

During the time of Christ birth, the Roman emperor was Augustus Caesar. His great uncle was Julius Caesar. The real name was not Augustus but Octavian, they named him Augustus meaning, “the exalted” He is the founder of the Roman empire.

Rome achieved great glory under Octavian/Augustus. He restored peace after 100 years of civil war. Rome began to flourish during his reign, he built roads, highways, postal system, free trade, built many great buildings. He became popular all over the Roman empire. After his death, the people the Roman Empire worshipped Augustus as a god. Israel/Judah was under the Roman empire and Augustus made Herod as the ruler of Israel, he is called the great Herod the builder which he began to build the temple of God.

Jews were looking for a political Savior who would come to save their nation. They thought the Messiah should come now as there was a great silence of 400 years and Messiah/Christ would defeat Rome and establish his kingdom. (John 1:11-12)

Why didn’t Christ come during our time, where there is high tech?

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

Fullness of time – Think about it, in creation God just spoke the word and it came being, but in redemption there was tremendous hardship, prophets were sent, they were persecuted killed, there were bloodshed, wars, sorrows, at the end God sent his Son to go through a cruel death.

Fullness of time is without the word of God for 400 years, there was spiritual darkness in Israel. There was Caesar getting popular, becoming like a god. They were looking for a military political Christ but Christ came to those who were truly hungry for him.

The Magnificat

Read Luke 1:26-38

V46-56

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹  for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

The Magnificat in Latin is translated glorifies or magnifies. Her soul is so deeply moved that the only appropriate expression of joy is with song. God was operating and demonstrating His power through two obscure, humble women: one old and barren and the other young and a virgin. This prompted Mary, who was neither a music composer nor a poet to utter one of the most inspiring songs of all time known as the magnificent. “Let everything that has breathe praise the Lord” Ps. 150: 6.

We know what suspicions even Joseph had, and that it was only a revelation from God that could remove them. Mary must have been really troubled if she went by feelings, and had been swayed by her flesh. .It was only her wondrous faith, — in some respects, her matchless faith.

“My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.” Unbelief would have said, “Wait.” Fear would have said, “Be silent.” But faith could not wait, and could not be silent; she must sing, and sing she did most sweetly.

singing is the natural language of joy.

Only in Christianity we sing songs to the Lord. Songs to Buddha? Songs to Mohammad? Even the ungodly express their joy when everything is going out great, If the ungodly sings can the godly be silent? if they have joy, much more have we. Their joy is like the

crackling of popcorns ; but ours is the shining of a star that never shall be quenched. Let us sing then, far our joy abounds and abides.

Therefore, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” If the

joy of the Lord be your strength, why not express it in holy song? singing is sweet to the ear of God.