Sitting in the courtyard of the Church of the Visitation in Ein Karem, Israel, I was overwhelmed with the beautiful display of sixty-seven mosaics containing the words of Luke 1:4655 in as many languages. Traditionally known as the Magnificat from the Latin to magnify, these verses are Marys joyous response to the announcement that she will be the mother of the Messiah.
Each plaque contains Marys words, including: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. . . . For the Mighty One has done great things for me (vv. 4649). The biblical hymn etched in the tiles is a song of praise as Mary recounts the faithfulness of God to her and the nation of Israel.
A grateful recipient of Gods grace, Mary rejoices in her salvation (v. 47). She acknowledges that Gods mercy has extended to the Israelites for generations (v. 50). Looking back over Gods care for the Israelites, Mary praises God for His powerful acts on behalf of His people (v. 51). She also thanks God, recognizing that her daily provision comes from His hand (v. 53).
Mary shows us that recounting the great things God has done for us is a way to express praise and can lead us to rejoice. This Christmas season, consider Gods goodness as you reflect on the year. In doing so, you may create a mosaic of great beauty with your words of praise.
INSIGHT
The birth of Jesus was a miracle because the Holy Spirit formed the body of Jesus in the womb of a young virgin girl. That this information comes to us from Luke is significant, because Luke was a doctor (Colossians 4:14) and understood the audacity of the claims of Jesuss virgin conception and birth. But Luke first tells of another miraculous conception that predated Jesus by six monthsthat of John the Baptist (Luke 1:2426). By human standards, his parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were too old to have a baby (vv. 7, 18). But in both the birth of Jesus and John the Baptist we see the working of God for whom nothing is impossible (v. 37 nasb).
For more, see Mary and Joseph: Reflecting on the Wonder of Christmas at discoveryseries.org/hp074.