MARYS SONG AND OURS

I would like to draw your attention to the first few words of the Magnificat, the song of Mary.
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden (Lk. 1:46-48, KJV)
Considering the first two lines we notice her joy, her pride in God. She magnifies His Name. The
dictionary of the word magnify is to make bigger. But how can Mary and how can we magnify the
Name of God, which is great beyond measure? There are two explanations and both are true.
1. Mary recognised Gods greatness more than other people.
2. As Hudson Taylor explains, How could Mary and how can we magnify God who is so great?
We and she cannot make Him greater. No, butwhen we use a pair of binoculars or a
telescope to look, say, at the moon, we do not expect to make it bigger than it is, but we
seem to bring it nearer to us. So, when we magnify God, we do not make Him greater. But
we bring Him nearer to others, to millions for whom He seems to be so far away.
Both explanations hold good and it should be our aim and purpose to put these two suggestions into
practice. For, if we are true Christians, we must recognise Gods greatness and bring Him nearer to
others. We must be like praises offered to Him and like binoculars, telescopes and giants of
Palomar for the use of others.
Salvation
Continuing with our study of the words of the Magnificat, we find Mary full of joy in God, her
Saviour. All have committed sin against God. Mary realised that she too was sinful; so she had
confessed it to God and was forgiven by God and God had saved her from the penalty of her sin,
thus becoming her Saviour.
But few people realise that they are sinful, that they have sinned against God and need a Saviour. So,
come, let us prove this fact of sinfulness. Dont we disobey our teachers, our parents and our elders?
Yes, we do. And what do the Scriptures say about obedience? Romans 13: 1-2, RSV: Let every
person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those
that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has
appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
So you see we have sinned and are in danger of the judgement. We need a Saviour and who is there
but Jesus Christ: for the Good Shepherd loved His sheep so much that He lay down His life for them.
The Scriptures assure us that He will forgive us. 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And if we do this we too will
have peace and joy like Mary, for we are reconciled to God and have sweet fellowship with Him.
Now we come to the third line. It shows the result of the first two. Mary knew that God was great
and she was nothing. So she in great truth and humility said that she of low estate. But in the next
breath of her song we hear her claim to be the servant of Godwhich is the most honourable
position.
We too can be His servants. Let us consider how we will serve Him.
Service
When Christ was on earth people cooked food Him, e.g. Martha. He asked people for waterthe
woman of Samaria. The property of others was at His disposal, e.g. Peters boat; the ass on which He

rode to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday; the upper room where He and His disciples had their last supper
together. People were at His disposal too, e.g. the Apostles.
We too can do all the things which these people of old did for Jesus, for He has said, Inasmuch as ye
did it unto one of these least, my brethren, ye did it unto me. Then when we have served Him by
serving others, we will receive the invitationCome ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world. But if we have not served Him we will fear
when the judgement is come upon us, for He will surely say, Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels.
Published in Light of Life, June 1964, pp. 10, 12