WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:05.919 We're in the third week of Advent, so that's the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:12.480 And so this morning we're going to contemplate this passage that is Mary speaking, the mother of Jesus. 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:24.320 We're going to contemplate it and we're going to at the same time think about our weary hearts and our fragile hearts and what happens as we come more alive to God's astonishing favor of us. 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:26.480 Now, if you remember, Mary was a Jewish girl. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:29.760 She was probably 13 or 14 years old at the time. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.119 She was a virgin engaged to marry this guy named Joseph. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:37.200 Now, in the midst of all that, this miracle breaks out in her life. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:42.640 We read about it in Luke 1 as the angel comes to her and basically says, Don't be afraid. 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:44.079 You're favored by God. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:52.479 You're going to have a baby, this Messiah that your people have been waiting for, that the world's waiting for, that's going to come and fulfill the law. 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:56.960 Be God's grace to all people, to save all sinners. 00:00:57.119 --> 00:00:59.679 I mean, talk about messing up her plans. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.079 I mean, this girl lived in an ancient patriarchal society. 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:09.439 To be pregnant out of wedlock would have had huge ramifications and persecution. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:15.040 And to that, Mary says, I'm a servant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.159 After this, she goes and visits her cousin Elizabeth. 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:28.959 Now, when she's with Elizabeth, is when she breaks out in this poem, or maybe it was a song, it's called the Magnificant, this passage that we are looking at today. 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:34.640 It's called the Magnificant, because there in verse 46, my soul magnifies the Lord. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:36.879 Luke 1, 46 through 49. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:39.280 Let's read a little and make some sense of this. 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:48.959 And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:52.879 For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:56.239 For he who is mighty has done great things for me. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:58.400 And holy is his name. 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:06.959 Point number one is this we grow in joy as we come alive to God's unmerited favor of us. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:13.039 Mary is rejoicing out of the favor that's been given to her. 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:16.879 When I was in the second grade, my teacher's name was Mrs. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:17.360 Jordan. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:18.879 There, little Russ is. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:22.639 That is a members-only jacket, in case you're wondering. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:32.080 Like any second grade little boy, I probably had too much energy for a classroom to hold me in. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:39.599 And yet, this lady, Mrs. 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:50.800 Jordan, every morning when I walked in the classroom, she would look right at me and she would say, Good morning, Mr. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:51.759 Wonderful. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:56.719 Now, my sister would not agree with that sentiment, right? 00:02:56.800 --> 00:03:00.080 I mean, there's plenty of basis for that not to be true at all. 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:02.319 But guess what? 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:04.319 It's been 35 years. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:07.520 I still remember it. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:10.879 I adored her. 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:13.919 Of course I did. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:16.960 I still adore her. 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:18.560 It's been 35 years. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:28.639 Because she was making a proclamation of favor over me, even when I didn't deserve it, even on the days I came in being a real pill. 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:32.080 Mary has nothing to offer. 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:36.879 She's nothing but her nothingness and her surrender. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:46.080 And in response to that unmerited favor announced over her, she says, My soul magnifies the Lord. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:48.159 My spirit rejoices. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:53.919 We grow in joy as we come alive to God's unmerited favor of us. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:55.360 It's what our hearts are longing for. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:58.240 It's what we're looking for everywhere else in the world. 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:00.960 Verse 50. 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:05.840 She continues in this just poem, in this poetry of praise. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:09.039 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:10.719 He has shown strength with his arm. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:13.360 He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:18.240 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:22.240 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:30.079 He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his offspring forever. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:36.319 Point number two is this God loyally and lavishly favors the weak and the weary. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:42.240 Loyal and lavish. 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:44.959 Even those of us who are humble estate. 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:48.240 That term humble estate is used twice in our passage. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:57.279 Earlier this year, the most expensive home to ever be sold at auction in the United States sold earlier this year. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:00.560 This estate home in Bel Air, California. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:02.720 That's a house, by the way, in case you're wondering. 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:03.839 That is a house. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:08.959 It sold this estate, sold for$126 million. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:13.920 21 bedrooms. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:16.160 42 bathrooms. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:17.759 I don't I don't know why. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:18.800 I don't know. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:20.560 Who knows? 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:29.920 A wine cellar, full service spa, of course, a gym, bowling alley, movie theater, nightclub, five swimming pools. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:32.800 A 30-car garage. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:36.959 I mean, this is extravagant. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:40.800 It's an extravagant estate. 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:45.120 And it is perfection down to the detail, smallest detail. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:52.959 Now, 20 years ago in Dekula, Georgia, Christy and I bought our first estate home. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:56.560 Man, we love that house. 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:57.600 I still love that house. 00:05:57.680 --> 00:05:59.120 I could live in that house the rest of my life. 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:02.879 Three-bedroom ranch, half an acre, a little creek in the backyard. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:04.720 It had a good foundation. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:06.319 It had some rotten wood around the chimney. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:07.839 Had to fix that up. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:09.040 They'd had some problems. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.199 We had a septic problem one time. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:13.519 We didn't have a swimming pool, we had a hose. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:15.759 We just hose each other off in the afternoons. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:20.480 You know, drink from it and hose each other off. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:28.879 Now I'd love to say that I feel like the Bel Air estate. 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:33.199 Beautiful and put together and perfected. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:36.240 But most of the time. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:40.240 And I'll just take a big leap here. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:42.639 Probably you also. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:48.560 Your heart and your life just doesn't always feel like the Bel-air estate. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.839 It doesn't always feel that put together. 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:56.480 It doesn't always feel that beautiful or perfected. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:00.000 We're much more like the humble house. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:02.160 That needs a little work. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:11.839 When it comes to matters of the heart, we are just simply the humble estate. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:14.560 That's what Mary says. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:20.959 Mary says, I'm of humble estate, yet I am greatly favored. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:22.639 Isn't that amazing? 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:26.240 This is what Jesus is all about. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:28.319 All the forgiveness. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:29.600 You hear that favor? 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:38.480 All the forgiveness you could ever need, all the righteousness you could ever need, all the favor you could ever need comes to us in the grace of God, known in Christ. 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:40.399 That's what the cross is. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:46.399 Our sin put upon him, his righteousness given to us, so we're forever in a position of belovedness and favor. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:50.240 Even though we're of humble estate. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:59.680 The best commentary on this passage that I revisit every year when we come around the Magnificant is from the 1500s by the theologian Martin Luther. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:02.480 Here's what he writes about this passage. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:07.759 The stress should not be on the low estate, but on the word regarded. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:15.279 Mary's low estate is not to be praised, but God's regard, as when a prince gives his hand to a beggar. 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:20.720 The meanness of the beggar is not to be praised, but the graciousness and goodness of the prince. 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:30.160 You must not only think and speak of lowliness, but come into it, sink into it, utterly helpless, that God alone may save you. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:34.960 Or at any rate, should it not happen, you should at least desire it and not shrink. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:47.039 For this reason we are Christians and have the gospel, that we may fall into distress and lowliness, and that God thereby may have his work in us. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:54.480 It's in the acceptance of our humble estate that we find that we can be rescued. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:09:01.039 Point number three is this we sing of God's goodness as we come alive to God's unmerited favor of us. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:06.080 So we grow in joy and we sing of God's goodness. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:12.720 We could say our hearts respond in worship when we come to know grace without conditions. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:16.799 Favor from God in Christ that we did not earn. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:21.039 And our hearts grow in joy and sing of his goodness. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:27.440 Now we can be realistic, I think we should be, that you and I will not always be joy-filled. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:29.440 We will not always be rejoicing. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:33.919 Sometimes I am still a pill to be around. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:37.200 And so are you, in case you're wondering. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:43.600 You're still human in a broken world where life does not always cooperate. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:46.399 And it can be tiring and disappointing. 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:47.919 It can be painful. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:52.399 You're not as put together as you thought you would be at this point. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:56.159 And your passive-aggressive mom is not either. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:00.720 Because you're still arguing about the Christmas Eve dinner, and you can't believe it's been going on this long. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:05.679 My back sometimes hurts when I wake up in the morning. 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:10.879 I somehow missed getting muscles, like filling out. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:12.000 That didn't. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:14.320 Coach kept saying, you'll fill out. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:18.399 Just the world doesn't always cooperate with us. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:19.919 Our bodies don't. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:22.080 Life doesn't. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:25.440 We're not always beautiful and put together and perfected. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:33.600 But we will experience taste and seasons of joy and of a peace that sort of is more profound than a circumstance. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:38.639 And it's not because you've earned it, and it's not because life finely cooperated. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:42.879 But because you're favored. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:45.679 And you didn't deserve it. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:46.960 And you didn't earn it. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:49.360 You don't have to maintain it. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:52.320 Now we have something to sing about. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:59.200 If we survey Mary's song, she's just describing how good God is. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:03.039 She's rejoicing in him. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:06.559 Verse 47, God my Savior. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:08.159 48, He has looked on me. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:09.679 49, for He is mighty. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:10.720 Holy is His name. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.000 50, His mercy. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:14.240 51, He has shown strength. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:16.000 52, He humbled the proud. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:17.840 53, He filled the hungry. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:20.000 54, He helped His people. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.320 55, He spoke to us. 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:29.919 This week this led me to three growth and grace questions for us to ponder. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:36.320 Number one, in what ways am I growing in my awareness of my humble estate? 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:38.960 In what ways am I connecting to that? 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:44.960 Not to be cast into despair, but to be freed in the honesty of who I am. 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:48.639 Number two, we move right into number one goes right to number two. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:54.960 In what ways am I coming alive to God's unmerited, lavish favor of me in Christ? 00:11:56.240 --> 00:12:00.240 How am I being set free by such a love and such favor? 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:13.440 Number three, this Christmas season, what would it mean for me to worship more than whimper and live in gratitude more than griping? 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:16.720 Worship more than whimper and live in gratitude more than griping. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:19.600 What would that look like for me in this Christmas season? 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:24.080 Pastor Scotty Smith, he writes this about this passage in a prayer. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:27.840 He prays this I have nothing to boast in but you, Jesus. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:30.720 You came to me when I wasn't seeking you. 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:36.799 You're being formed in me just as surely as you entered the world through Mary's womb. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:44.399 I'm a blessed man only because you've done great things for me, and you continue to do great things for me. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:46.559 Holy is your name, Lord Jesus. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:50.559 I have no concern for what any generation may say about me. 00:12:50.799 --> 00:13:00.639 It's enough to know what you say about me, that I'm yours, that I'm forgiven, that I'm righteous in you, that nothing can separate me from your love. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:13.360 Point number four, God's word, Christ Himself, it's ultimately God's word to us, Christ Himself, is the secure announcement of favor that our hearts long for. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:16.559 A few months ago I was in an airport. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:22.000 I'd been away from family for four days, away from my wife and my three girls. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.919 And it was early in the morning to fly back. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:27.600 It was a direct flight back with a little bit of a time change, sitting in the airport. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:34.080 I have my aisle seat reserved, I'm ready to get on the plane, get my aisle seat, I was gonna watch Top Gun 2 Maverick again. 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:36.559 Just keep rewatching that on planes. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:38.480 It's so good, right? 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:39.440 So good. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:42.080 I was supposed to arrive home at 4 p.m. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:43.519 I already had the whole plan. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:46.960 I was gonna train there, get my bag off the baggage claim. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:53.200 I was gonna train over the West Deck, get my car, drive home, and be home for dinner and movie with my family. 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:56.399 And then an announcement came over the crowd. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:04.399 Flight was oversold, overbooked, looking for two people to give up their seats for a thousand Delta bucks each. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.080 Nobody moved. 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:14.320 You know, you kind of look up, nobody moved, but everybody pulls their phone out as we're all figuring out how quick we can get home. 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:17.200 Like, is there like a plane at the next gate and I can be home 30 minutes later? 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:18.559 So we all pull, it's not good. 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:19.360 It's 4 p.m. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.080 to midnight. 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:21.200 Like that's the stretch here. 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:23.120 That's the sacrifice for the thousand bucks. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:24.720 Nobody gets up, nobody moves. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:26.320 Because we're we're processing, I'm processing. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:28.399 I'm like, thousand bucks is a lot of money. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:30.639 But like I really want to go home. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:32.399 Like, I really want dinner in a movie. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:33.919 Like, I really want to go home. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:39.360 And I'm gonna have to like rent a car if it's too long to be in the airport, and then I gotta spend money in the day. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.519 Another announcement,$1,200. 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.879 It's now$1,200. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.919 Conversations are starting. 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:48.480 Okay? 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:50.240 You can start to see everybody talking. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:51.039 Like, what could we do? 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.600 How can we do it? 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:54.559 You know, starting still, no no nobody gets up. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:58.399 But I make my decision, my price is$2,000. 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:02.480 I probably should have done it for$1,200, to be honest, now that look back on it. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:04.960 But at the time, I really want to come home. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.399 You know the feeling. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:09.360 But I'm like,$2,000, that's the point where that's absurdity. 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:10.480 Like, I gotta, I have to. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.320 I can't, I can't just not do it. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:14.480 Another announcement comes on,$1,500. 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:17.679 Immediately, two people pop up, boom, it's over. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:19.759 I missed it, it's done. 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:21.679 They get it. 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:28.879 I get home at 4 p.m., I grab my bag, I get dinner in a movie with a family. 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:34.320 Essentially a$1,200 dinner in a movie with my family. 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:43.200 But what if out of what if out of insane extravagance? 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.639 Right, just what if? 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:45.440 It's a what if. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.480 Play with me. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:52.559 The announcement comes on, and the lady who was talking, what if she had said we're ever booked? 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:57.840 We are gifting limitless favor with Delta. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:01.519 First class seats forever. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:11.440 I mean, can you imagine such favor from a source of such power and authority and resources? 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:13.679 And here's my point. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.360 I think the point's better than illustration. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:17.039 Illustration doesn't really work all that great. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:18.960 It breaks down a little bit, but here's the point. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:23.759 The point is this we spend a lot of energy grasping for favor. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:26.799 I do, you do, we all do this. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:30.799 What's gonna deem me okay or enough or worthy or forgiven? 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.799 Just like what can somebody else? 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:50.559 Like, you know, if I get enough approval of other people, favor of other people, status, success, an image, how good we look, how we dress, how well put together we are, how beautiful and perfected the Bel Air state, what we've done. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.840 And all that's incredibly exhausting. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.120 And it's actually our sin. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:58.000 It's called self-justification. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:10.480 And God steps into our sin and our mass and all that exhausting grasping that we do into our humble estate. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:17.759 And he says, In Christ, I forever favor you. 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.720 Can you imagine? 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:23.119 Such a lavish favor. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:30.720 We're gonna close with the collect prayer for this week, for the week of Advent, this third week. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:34.559 As we do this, as we did it last week, you're welcome to bow in prayer. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:37.119 You're welcome to read the prayer on the screen as I pray it. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:40.240 You're welcome to open your hands in a posture of prayer. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:43.920 However, you would like to posture yourself in prayer. 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.799 Let's pray. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:57.680 Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:09.759 And because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:19.359 Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit we honor and glory now and forever. 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.480 Amen.