Pursuing Truth, Cultivating Virtue, Creating Beauty

We hear a lot about joy at Christmas. Christmas cards mention joy. We sing songs like “Joy to the World,” “Good Christian Men, Rejoice,” “Joy Has Dawned,” and “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.” The traditional greeting “Merry Christmas” means “happy Christmas.” On a profound level, Christmas is about joy, and we see that in the Bible’s nativity narratives.

Luke especially emphasizes the joy that Jesus’ salvation brings, which is why he includes several poems or songs from people who rejoice over the Christ child. The most famous of these is Mary’s “Magnificat” found in Luke 1:46-55. It’s a beautiful poem that can help us refocus our hearts on Christ and his joy at a time when it’s ironically easy to lose focus on him. If you want to sing with Mary this Christmas, what should you focus on?

Focus on God’s Grace

Grace is the foundation of Mary’s joy. She acknowledges that she’s a sinner in need of a Savior (47). She says that God has looked with favor on her humble condition (48). She knows she’s not important or deserving of the great blessings God has given her. All generations will call her blessed not because she earned such blessing, but because God blessed her when she didn’t deserve it (48). In other words, Mary rejoices because she’s a recipient of God’s grace.

If you want true joy this Christmas, come to God for his grace in Christ. Humbly confess that you are a sinner who deserves his curse, not his blessing. Humbly admit that you are incapable of doing anything that could bring you one step closer to God. Humbly depend on Jesus, his death, and his resurrection alone to save you from sin and make you right with God.

Jesus is the one true God come to earth as a human to live, die, and rise as your Savior. Receive his grace by faith, and celebrate the grace God shows to unworthy sinners like you and me!

Focus on God’s Greatness

Mary’s soul “magnifies,” or literally “tells of the greatness of,” the Lord (46). Her song is about God and his greatness in keeping his redemptive promises. She celebrates the great things God has done for her (49). She calls him “the Mighty One” and “holy,” meaning he is set apart from all else, in a category of his own (49).

At Christmas, it’s easy to focus on things like presents and parties, music and memories. If you want true joy, turn your focus to God. Savor his awe-inspiring greatness. Marvel at the miracle of the incarnation—God himself taking on a human nature and being born of a virgin. Rejoice at the great things God has done for you personally.

This can be hard with the distractions and busyness of the holiday season. Intentionally take time to refocus on God. Listen to Christ-exalting Christmas music. Fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ who will point you to him. Write out the blessings you’re thankful for from this past year. Read a Christmas devotional. Warm your heart with the greatness of God until your soul also magnifies the Lord.

Focus on God’s Promises

With the announcement that Mary would give birth to the Messiah, Mary knew that God was beginning to fulfill his salvation promises. And just as God has shown mercy to her, so he will show mercy to all who fear him, all who humbly trust in God for his salvation and reverence him as their highest good (50).

With the birth of Christ, God began to fulfill his promises to exalt his people and judge the proud who oppose him (51-53). With the birth of Christ, all of God’s promises to Abraham and Israel had finally become a reality (54-55). Mary was so certain that God would fulfill his promises that she sang about it in the past tense, even though Jesus hadn’t been born yet! When God promises something, it’s as good as done.

Underlying Mary’s fear of God and her faith in God’s faithfulness was her knowledge of God’s promises. Her habit was to take spiritual truths, hide them in her heart, and meditate on them (Luke 2:20, 51). It’s no surprise that her poem explodes with Old Testament quotations and allusions, especially Hannah’s prayer (1 Samuel 2) and various psalms.

If you want to rejoice like Mary, fear God like Mary. Trust him and worship him as your highest good. Have faith in God’s faithfulness to fulfill his promises. And steep your heart and mind in the promises of God. Read them in the Bible, study them, think about them, and—most importantly—believe them.

If you want true, lasting, satisfying joy this Christmas, focus on God’s greatness, grace, and promises. Then, sing with Mary!