Mary: Faith changes everything (Luke 1:39-56)

We’ve talked recently about how to be (or bring) a blessing to others; but another worthy question is how best to experience and enjoy God’s blessing ourselves. In an endeavour to embrace that question, we can again observe Mary, the mother of Jesus. Last week we saw how she made the most of God’s personal presence that came to overshadow her. But in the text of Luke, we also see Mary moving from shock and puzzlement to extraordinary faith, and also an understanding that such faith leads on to blessing – for we read in Luke 1:45, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord”.

Once Mary had earlier realised that the astonishing words being spoken to her were from God, she complied with God’s wishes (“let it be with me according to Your word” – v.38), and while we could see this as an initial step of faith, it perhaps is more an act of humble obedience (that opens the way for faith). Faith doesn’t just happen – one has to be ready for it, open to it, and prepared to do something with it! When Mary paid her visit to Elizabeth, Mary received all the confirmation she needed, that indeed God was at work – the child in Elizabeth’s womb “leaped for joy” (v.41, 44), and Elizabeth identified Mary as the mother of her Lord (v.43). We then have those words of Elizabeth that recognises Mary’s receipt of faith: “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” (v.45). Elizabeth rightly recognises that Mary will continue to be blessed, because having heard the voice of God, she trusted and believed that what had been said to her would come to pass; an apt forerunner of all those in the future who would come to believe in Jesus, and bring themselves under a similar blessing!

What did Mary believe? What was her faith enshrined within. We would have to go back to the earlier words of God’s angel to Mary (v.31-33): “… You will conceive in your womb and bear a son … Jesus … he will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David … he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end”. Believe that if you will … and Mary did! Mary believed that the child within her was the long awaited Messiah, Christ, Anointed One – the One who would save her people from the perilous state they were in. As we have said, through such faith, Mary has thus put herself in the place of God’s blessing.

The faith being expressed here, by Mary, indeed changes everything. It firstly changes a frightened and perplexed young girl into the bold and committed mother of the Son of God. Mary’s faith also places her in a state of blessing whereby God can really work in, with and through her, to bring about God’s own purposes. Humility led to faith which led to blessing. This is the same as our discipleship path today: humility (or openness) leading to faith, in turn leading to blessing – where “blessing” indicates a consciousness of the presence, acceptance and approval of God. And Mary would indeed need such a ‘blessing’, because she would still face the accusative looks of a faithless crowd.

Faith in God changes everything, in fact it can bring about complete reversals, as indicated in the words that follow. Mary speaks or sings words that are familiar to her, largely drawn from the scriptures of her upbringing (v.47-55), but now with new faith-filled meaning. Mary now sees the fulfilment of these ancient texts in the coming of the child she will bear. She also gains much reassurance that in placing her trust firmly in God, that, no matter how tough it gets, God is with her, and everything will work out for the best. This song of Mary highlights God’s gift of mercy, and also reflects that those who faithfully respond to this mercy can expect to see significant reversals – i.e. the lowly will be lifted up, and the proud will be brought down.

God’s choice has passed over the proud, the rich, and the mighty, and has instead fallen upon Mary as the future mother of the Son of God (Wilcock). The very notion of the Son of God being born to one viewed as a lowly servant puts any such earthly status into a new perspective. The “lowly” will be lifted up (v.52b) and the “hungry” filled with good things (v.53a) … why?? Because they have opened themselves to God! The “proud” will be scattered (v.51b) and the “rich” turned away (v.53b)… why?? Because they have no room for God … indeed many have erected huge barriers separating them from hearing God’s voice! The Kingdom of God is centred around faith not position. When viewed in the light of Jesus, earthly powers will always be seen to be lacking (v.52a). For with the eyes of faith in Jesus, God’s people will see things differently according to more enlightened perspectives. And at some times and in some places these Kingdom perspectives will need to be acted upon against the tide of the defensive status-quo.

The possibilities of new faith are fuelled by God’s mercy, a mercy which reaches down and touches the world through Jesus. First Israel, and then the Gentiles across the whole world (in line with God’s covenant with Abraham), will receive the offer of such mercy. The new Israel, the new family of God, will be those that humbly receive God’s mercy and become lifelong followers of Jesus. And for all this, God deserves our praise; and Mary offers this – “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. This was living under blessing par excellence! There is a connectedness in relationship here that is worthy of our attention. What might we say (in confirming our belief in God)? Echoing Mary (refer v.31-33), we might simply say ‘Jesus IS the Lord’! Have we sufficiently experienced the faith that changes everything to be able to say ‘Jesus IS Lord’?