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In Luke 1 the writer gives us the story before the story. He introduces us to three people with key roles in the soon-unfolding Christmas narrative. Each of these three lends a voice of praise with a theme that weaves itself throughout the story of Christ’s birth and through the greater redemption story. Today we’ll look at Mary herself. Mary is the voice of faith.

No question that Mary is a woman of tremendous faith. During Gabriel’s amazing visit, Mary was given one confirmation that the angel’s words were true – the pregnancy of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth.

This week, Mary sees that confirmation with her own eyes, and she hears Elizabeth’s joyful pronouncement that she is in the presence of the Messiah, the baby that Mary is carrying. That moment, being able to share and embrace the joy and wonder – possibly for the first time – causes Mary to break forth in a hymn of praise that has come to be known as the Magnificat. We can read it in Luke 1:46-55.

We can easily follow Mary’s example. Think of a time God has confirmed His word to you, or kept a promise or answered a prayer. What words of praise and thanks can you offer?

In verse 48, she says, “For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” This is not an exaltation of herself, because in verse 46 she has already stated that her soul magnifies the Lord. This statement is a recognition that God is doing something of eternal importance by sending a Messiah.

Do we recognize God’s moments? Do we care to know how they fit into His greater kingdom plan?

In verses 49-50, Mary highlights God’s strength, His holiness and His mercy. This is the one in whom Mary has placed her faith. He is not just a better version of us, He is transcendent. His strength is beyond strength. The proof is that He does great things, even for one such as Mary. And He shows us mercy because of His character, not ours.

Who is your faith in? What three attributes would you highlight about Him?

In verses 51-53, Mary says the Lord has “scattered the proud,” “put down the mighty” but “exalted the lowly.” He has “filled the hungry” but sent the rich away empty. Mary understood this is opposite of how the world worked and little has changed since Mary’s time. But she knew God sees and knows all about the overlooked and marginalized. She was a living testimony of that.

Do we have a heart for the lowly, for the hungry, and for the poor? Do the people who touch God’s heart also touch ours? Are we moved to act like He is?

Finally in verses 54-55, Mary connects the events in her life, in Elizabeth’s life to the covenant God spoke “to Abraham and to His seed forever.” God is a promise-keeper. His words are confirmed by His actions. He is worthy of our praise and He is worthy of our complete faith in Him. The Magnificat testifies to that.

Mary was not a lightweight. She was not a self-absorbed teenager. She was blessed with a keen knowledge and understanding of the Old Testament and that enabled her to begin making sense of what was happening with her pregnancy. Of course, we know that she will continue to ponder and meditate on all these things. But to her credit, Mary’s voice remains the voice of faith. May ours be as well.

In Luke 1, the writer gives us the story before the story. He introduces us to three people with key roles in the soon-unfolding Christmas narrative. Each of these three lends a voice of praise with a theme that weaves itself throughout the story of Christ’s birth and through the greater redemption story. Today let’s consider Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin and the mother of John the Baptist. Elizabeth is the voice of joy.

In Luke 1:42 Elizabeth greets Mary. She said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child that you will have.” This is a huge statement. It is unlikely that Mary had any support at home for her pregnancy. Her family, if they knew, were no doubt very glad to have Mary go away, away from the town gossips. After a long trip alone, she arrives unannounced at the home of the Elizabeth and Zacharias. This couple was known to be devout and exemplary in character. Would Elizabeth believe the story about the angel? About the miraculous conception? All of those questions were resolved with this greeting.

Notice Luke says, “She said in a loud voice.” Some commentators suggest that he phrased it this way to indicate that Elizabeth was making a prophetic pronouncement at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. God revealed to Elizabeth that Mary was carrying a baby before Mary had a chance to say anything.

Are we sensitive to the Holy Spirit like Elizabeth was? Are we living the kind of life that allows Him to work in us?

In verse 43 the voice of joy further declares, “And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Not only was Mary carrying a baby, that baby was the Lord. Whether or not Elizabeth understood everything she was saying, she affirmed the incarnation, the Word made flesh. To confirm the truth and the joy in that statement the baby inside Elizabeth leaped and kicked. Mary didn’t have to explain anything. The Holy Spirit made it plain.

Elizabeth shows us to be alert and aware of the presence of Christ, and to rejoice that He is here.

Finally, in verse 45, Elizabeth says, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” There is joy because the promises of God are true, because He is doing and will do what He said.

What promises has God fulfilled in your life? Does that fill you with joy? If so, are you sharing it? If not, why not?

If you have extra time this season, notice how many times joy and its forms appear in the first two chapters of Luke. Elizabeth, the voice of joy, reminds us in this season of stress, of uncertainty, of confusion that God’s plan has not been put on hold. Because of that, there is joy. You can say so with a loud voice!