聖誕頌歌 （English）

Sermon: Luke 1 46-56

The Song of Mary

Have you ever received any surprise in Christmas? You

receive a big Christmas present, some thing that you

never dreamt of? Something even that you think you don't

deserve it?

Last week a lady in church came to me. Oh it is so nice of

your wife who gave me such a lovely and precious

present. And she said but your wife gave me because she

thought I am always doing the morning tea. But I do not.

And this is what happened to Mary. Mary is the one whom

God has chosen to receive the gift of God gives to

humankind. Jesus Christ came to her through the Holy

Spirit, who also don't think that she deserves the gift.

But Mary is not only Mary she represents each of us.

Jesus came into our lives also, through the work of the

Holy Spirit.

So when we read the story of Mary, we think of how

Jesus also came into our lives.

So Mary's story is relevant to each of us here. If we

believe in Jesus, her story reminds us the attitudes we

should have during Christmas.

If we have not accepted Jesus, Christmas is the time

when we think about whether we accept the precious gift

that God wants to give us.

This Christmas, let us have the correct attitudes in

Christmas. Mary gave us a good model for us to learn the

attitudes we should have before we sing, we enjoy the

Christmas songs tonight.

Today I am going to tell you three attitudes that we should

have in order to prepare for a meaningful and wonderful

Christmas.

**********************

The first attitude: 反復思想

Before Luke talked about the story of Mary he talked

about the story of Zechariah.

How he did not believe in what the angels say. He says

撒?利亞對天使 ： 說 "我怎麼能知道這事呢？我已經老

了，我妻子也上了年紀。" (Luk 1:18 CNV5)

馬利亞對天使 ： 說 "我還沒有出嫁，怎能有這事呢？"

(Luk 1:34 CNV5)

不信的懷疑和相信的懷疑

看吧！到了時候我的話必要應驗；因為你不信我的

話，你必成為啞巴，直到這些事成就的那一天，才能

話。 說 " (Luk 1:20 CNV5)後來，馬利亞就起身，急忙

向山地去 ，來到猶大的一座城， (Luk 1:39 CNV5)

in verse 36 says remember her relative Elizabeth who

was so old and the angel told her that she has now got

pregananted.

你看，你親戚以利沙伯，被稱為不生育的，在老年也

懷了男胎，{在已是第六個月了， (Luk 1:36 CNV5)

So Mary began her journey of faith, a journey of

seeking.

後來，馬利亞就起身，急忙向山地去，來到猶大的一

座城， (Luk 1:39 CNV5)

When the angel appeared to Mary, she wanted to believe

but she did not have enough faith. She said I have not get

married (v34). But the angel affirmed Mary, the Holy Spirit

will be upon you, and the power of the son of God will

protect you.

If she did not believe, she would not go immediately. She

wanted to confirm about the message. She took action

and check to see whether it is true. She checked whether

what she heard from the angel is true.

And after she saw Elizabeth really got pregnant.

Someone who is impossible to get pregnant now have a

baby for six months and the baby can even jump up and

down, it is a healthy baby.

以利沙伯一聽見馬利亞的問安，腹中的胎兒就跳動，

以利沙伯也被聖靈充滿， (Luk 1:41 CNV5)

She saw that what the angel said was true. And believe

that what Gabriel told her would come to pass.

And Elizabeth actually gave her a confirmation saying

that “blessed is she who believed that there would be a

fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

(1:45).

這相信的女子是有福的．因為主對她所 的話、都要 說應驗。 (Luk 1:45 CU5)

So Mary believed and she sang to praise God.

Notice that Mary did not sing after she has her baby. She

sang when her baby has not yet been born (cf 1:56).

馬利亞和以利沙伯同住約有三個月，就回家去了。

(Luk 1:56 CNV5)

She believed what will happen to her when she saw the

pregnant relative of Elizabeth, at her old age (cf verse

1:18) can still have a baby she was convinced what the

angel said was true.

To Mary a barren woman get pregnant reminded her of

the experience of Hannah, who also got pregnant in her

old age.

So, this is a song of faith. And she believed the word

wholeheartedly because of what she saw.

Because of what she saw, she believe in what she heard.

It is ironic, the one who always serve the Lord,

Zechariahs, did not believe (1:20) but the one who is just

a woman, the one who has no status in the society

believed.

You see Mary she is doubtful but she go and seek out the

truth. And you see Zechariah when the angels told him

that they are going to have a baby he did not believe.

So do you believe in God's word? Do you believe in the

gospel? The Gospel message is similar to the virgin

Mary's message – that you are going to be born again,

through the work of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus lives in

you.

You can choose to be like Zechariah, but you can also

choose to be like Mary. And begin the process of

seeking? Can you see all the effects of Christianity

towards the people? How the gospel changes our lives?

Mary believed and also trust what is going to happen to

her when she saw the work of God on other people.Do you believe?

She even sang praises even though she has not got the

baby. Other songs of praise in the Bible only sang after

they got the baby, but Mary is different, she sang before

she got the baby.

Can you believe in God when you have not seen the

answer yet?

And can you sing praises even though your situation has

not changed but you know that God is going to help you

to go through it?

In this Christmas, just like Mary, we need to believe more

about what we heard; We need to see what God has

done in other people's lives and thus increase our faith.

In this Christmas, let us believe more in him more and

praise him in faith.

************************************

The second thing we notices about Mary is in verse 46:

馬利亞 ： 說 "我心尊主為大，

The second attitude: Magnifying God (46) 尊主為大

Verse 42 says when Mary greeted Elizabeth, Elizabeth

was filled with the Holy Spirit. Saying that she is blessed.

She is the most blessed among woman. And the baby in

Mary is blessed. (v42). In the Greek, it is not will be

blessed, but is blessed.

就高聲 ： 說 "你在女子中是有福的！你腹中的胎兒也是有福

的！ (Luk 1:42 CNV5)

So she has got pregant when Mary just came to see

Elizabeth. Probably she got pregnant shortly after

Gabriel visited her.

Verse 39 says, after she got the news of angels that she

is going to be preganant and carry baby Jesus, she went immediately to

So Mary immediately went. 那時候馬利亞起身、急忙往

山地裡去、來到猶大的一座城． (Luk 1:39 CU5)

(verse 39)

So she has not get married with Joesph. She has just

engaged with him.

And Verse 56 says Mary stayed there for about three

months.

馬利亞和以利沙伯同住約有三個月，就回家去了。

(Luk 1:56 CNV5)

So, she when she go back from the a hilly area of Judea

to Nazereth of Galilee. It has already been nearly 3 to 4

months. Her womb is already three months old and other

people can see it!

What would we do today when we have a baby before

marriage? Some of us may get marry as soon as we have

the baby just to hide the shame. Some of the people

today may even do an abortion.

But Mary did not hurry back as soon as she has got

pregnant. She stayed three months with Elizabeth. This is

most likely because she went back to get marry with

Joseph as originally planned.

She accepted what God's doing in her life. She did not

change her plan to hide the fact.

Mary did not say no I can't. I still have to get Married. I am

just a little girl. Go find some one else. I am going to get

married.

The fact may bring her shame. Other people may look at

her differently with critics. Joesph may look at her

differently – think of Joesph you engage with me and then

you go to Judea and then come back with pregancy after

3 months. How difficult it is to trust in her.

But she did not do the things to protect herself, to make herself

look good... she just accept what God has done in her life.

馬利亞 ： 說 "我是主的婢女，願照你的話成就在我身

上！.... " (Luk 1:38 CNV5)

Here in the verse it says she “continues to magnify” God.

She allows God's work to be done in her life. She allows

God use her to achieve the purpose of salvation.

She continues to magnify God and let him be her king.

How are we today? If something you see God is working

in your life. Do you allow him to be your king? If the Holy

Spirit is working in you prompting you to believe in Him,

do you allow it to be done or do you resist?

Do you con tinue to magnify God in your life? Or are you

still ruling your life?

This Christmas, let us imitate Mary. When we sing

Christmas carols, let us have the same heart of Mary. Let

us continue to magnify God in our lives.

Third Attitude: Be Joyful (V47-48) 以神為樂

我靈以　神我的救主為樂， (Luk 1:47 CNV5)

Maybe Mary is reciting something like this in the book of

Isaiah.

我因耶和華大大歡喜、我的心靠　神快樂．因他以拯

救為衣給我穿上、以公義為袍給我披上、好像新郎戴

上華冠、又像新婦佩戴妝飾。

(Isa 61:10 CU5)

Why is she joyful?

The passage gives three reasons:1 She rejoices because He is merciful in her

Look at verse 48:

因為他顧念他使女的卑微．從今以後、萬代要稱我有

福。 (Luk 1:48 CU5)

耶和華雖然高高在上，仍然看顧卑微的人；他卻從遠處{出

驕傲的人。

7 我雖然處身在患難之中，你仍使我存活；我

仇敵的怒氣，你必伸手抵擋；你的右手必拯救我。

(Psa 138:6-7 CNV5)

15 因為那至高無上、永遠存在、他名為聖的這樣 ： 說 "雖

然我住在至高至聖的地方，卻與心靈痛悔和謙卑的人同在，

要使謙卑人的靈甦醒，也使痛悔人的心甦醒。

(Isa 57:15 CNV5)

Mary's song is very similar to the song of Hannah.

Samuel was born after Hannah prayed feverently to God

because she could not give birth.

But She is a virgin! Not someone who has married for a

long time but cannot give birth! But she identify herself as

Hannah. She does not take it for granted. 她沒有當是必然,

,,,,

God is not only merciful to Mary. He is merciful to each of

us in this world:

因我们上帝怜悯的心肠，叫清晨的日光从高天临到我们，

要照亮坐在黑暗中死荫里的人，把我们的脚引到平安的路

上。 ( 路 1:78-79)

2. She rejoices because He saves her

9 我的心必因耶和華快樂，因他的救恩高興。

10 我全身

的骨頭都要 ： 說 "耶和華啊！有誰像你呢？你搭救困苦的

人， 離那些比他強盛的；搭救困苦和窮乏的人， 離那 脫 脫

些搶奪他的。" (Psa 35:9-10 CNV5)51

他用膀臂施展大能，驅散心裡妄想的狂傲人。

52

他使有權能的失位，叫卑微的升高，

53

讓飢餓的得飽美食，使富足的空手回去。

How joyful it is...

Mary thinks that God can use her such a lowly lady to

achieve his purpose, and praise him that this is his

character – to save the poor and needy. Those who come

before him.

Through Jesus, sins no longer our burden. He gave us a

new life. The Bible is full of examples that God saves us

from not only our spiritual hunger and difficulties but also

our physical hunger and difficulties. That is something to

be joyful about.

3. She rejoices because God is faithful

She knows the promise to Abraham has been fulfilled.

[v55]

正如他向我們列祖所 的，恩待亞伯拉罕和他的後裔 說 ，

直到永遠。" (Luk 1:55 CNV5)

神 ： 說 "你的妻子撒拉，真的要為你生一個兒子，你要給他

起名叫以撒，我要與他堅立我的約，作他後裔的永約。

(Gen 17:19 CNV5)

The plan of God is not only for the saving of Israel, but for

the people in the world to be saved and come back to

him.

And Mary saw that God is keeping that promise.

Too today, this promise continues to fulfill as more and

more people turn to Jesus, we become the descendants

of Abraham....this is something that God has promised

Abraham, promised to David.

This is something to be joyful about that our God is a faithful God. All his promises he will do it. And we know these promises from the Bible. How joyful that is!

***************

So too, nowadays, we are to be joyful!

Paul said be joyful!

你們要靠主常常喜樂．我再 、你們要喜樂。 說

(Phi 4:4 CU5)

It is a command. Not only a command. It repeats.

To rejoice relying on God!

Mary has to suffer from despise of other people. But

she rejoices for the salvation.

So are we.

We are to rejoice about our salvation because He is

merciful on us, because he saves us, and because

he is faithful.

This Christmas, no matter what is happening to us,

when we think about the salvation of God. We should

be joyful because God is meriful in us, he take care of

us and loved us while we were sinners. He saved us

from our old lives and give us a new life. He is faithful

with his promises.

So when we sing joy to the world tonight, let us sing with

our hearts.

Conclusion

Mary reminds us about our salvation. God came to Mary and give birth to Jesus.

Just as Mary is blessed.

For us who believe in Jesus are blessed because God

came to us and lives in us. So in this Christmas, we

should have the same attitude of Mary – to be believing ,

to be humble and to be joyful, because we are blessed.

But if you have not believed in Jesus, this Christmas is

a time for you to think about the message of the gospel

and do something to seek whether it is true.

天使對他 、馬利亞、不要怕．你在　神面前已經蒙 說

恩了。 (Luk 1:30 CU5)

Just like on that day there was a good news for Mary from

the angel, today we have a good news for you. Do you

believe in the Good news?

Let's pray...