The Magnificat - God Had A Plan All Along

My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.  For He who is mighty has done great things for me.  And holy is His name.  And His mercy is on those who fear Him.  From generation to generation.  He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.  He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,  As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.

     The Magnificat  (Luke 1:46-55  NKJ)


Two women connected through deep family roots.  One old and unable to conceive.  The other a young virgin.

Yet, just prior to the utterance of one of the most famous songs ever sung, these two devout Jewish soon-to-be mothers had a common bond that went beyond their physical condition.

Elizabeth was most likely Mary's cousin and her name means "God is my oath." She was born of the lineage of Aaron, and was the wife of Zacharias, who was a priest of the division of Abijah - an order appointed by King David for temple service (I Chronicles 24:10).

Mary was descended from the house of David.  She was told that her Son would receive "the throne of his father David," and also because Christ is described as being of "the seed of David according to the flesh" (Acts 2:30 ; Romans 1:3).

When Mary visited her kinswoman Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea both women were excited to see each other.  Mary had been told of Elizabeth's advanced stage of pregnancy by the angel Gabriel, and no doubt Elizabeth had heard of her close relative's betrothal to Joseph and their baby's impending birth.

However, it was when Mary greeted her that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and the revelation of the Christ child was made known. The fact that the baby within her - the forerunner to the Messiah - leaped for joy inside his mother's womb is indicative of the Lord's plan and how perfect it is.

Elizabeth and Zacharias were faithful, righteous and devoted to God. Zacharias served in the temple according to custom.  While the whole assembly of the people were praying outside, he was in the sanctuary of the Lord burning the incense.  An angel of the Lord appeared to him - standing to the right side of the altar of incense.  Zacharias was startled and overcome with fear, but the angel [Gabriel] said to him:

"Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of father to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people."

This news foretold the fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3-5 - "the voice of one crying in the wilderness".  After the birth of their beloved son John [the Baptist], Zacharias would prophesy, "...And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins..."  

Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel in Nazareth in the sixth month of her cousin's pregnancy.  He said to her, "Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you... Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."

After it was explained to her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the holy One born to her would be called the Son of God, Gabriel reassured her saying, "And consider your relative Elizabeth - even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God."

It is that last part of Gabriel's announcement that I personally love the most... Nothing is impossible with God.  Both women received their miracles. Jesus Himself reiterates His promise to us - "With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27).


One woman's promise fulfilled was another woman's fulfilled promise. 

A dead womb became the life giving incubator for the world's most infamous preacher, who willingly "decreased" that the Savior of the world might "increase" and take upon His shoulders the sin of all mankind.

And a young woman willingly submitted to her Lord, fulfilling prophesy and being the first face He beheld as He opened His eyes for the first time on earth in human form.

God had a plan all along...

Enjoy the performance of this Christmas classic by Josh Groban

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. 
Visit  http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com

The Magnificat - God Had A Plan All Along

Where Should We Go? Need Answers?

How often do you verbalize an intense need to find the answers when something goes wrong in your relationships?  Is anyone listening?  Do you cry out in frustration – looking at the ceiling – hoping you will be heard?  Why do we do that?

In the New Testament, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all have their own rendition of Jesus preaching to the multitudes and feeding thousands.  Matthew, Mark and John record Christ walking on the water and stilling the storm. While those two events are miraculous and nature defying, I find the passage regarding Peter’s confession to be especially riveting.  In Matthew 16:15-17 Jesus asks His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter then answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  To which Jesus replies, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

In chapter 6 of John’s gospel we read that in the days following the feeding of the masses on the hills of Judea, many of them sought out Jesus and found Him on the other side of the sea.  They remembered seeing the disciples boarding a boat and sailing across the sea – but they never saw Jesus with them.  When they found Him they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

There were still many people who wanted to see Jesus rule as their King. They were desperate for change and longed for the day when Israel was no longer under Roman rule.  But Jesus knew they followed Him because they ate of the loaves and were filled, not because they saw the miracles.  They even discussed with Him the fact that their forefathers ate manna in the desert. Jesus then said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Jesus told them, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”  Jesus most likely had hundreds of followers, many of whom left John the Baptist and followed after Him. However, scores of His disciples took offense with His words and John 6:66 tells us, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

The next passage in verses 67-69 is perhaps one of my all-time favorites.  Jesus asks the twelve disciples, “Do you also want to go away?”  Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”  He then stated that they had come to believe that He was indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

Every time I read that passage I feel the same way…  To Whom shall we go?  You alone – JESUS – have the words of eternal life.  Psalm 73:25-26 says this: “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon the earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Now back to the initial question:  Why do we look somewhere else other than Jesus when we have a crisis or a specific need or a secret longing?   Our culture would tell us to go see a “chick flick” and feel better about our circumstances.   It might beckon us to watch Dr. Phil or a self-help show to ease our pain.  We can always pick up the latest copy of People or another gossip magazine to feel better about our broken friendships or failing marriage.  Just turn up that radio, iPod, or home theater to drown out our anxiety and depression. 

But what should we really do when we come to the end of ourselves and our own resources?  Popular Christian author and speaker Joyce Meyer says, “Go to the Throne instead of the phone!”  Seek the One who has the answers for life’s turmoil and quandaries. Jesus Himself said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

We should go to Him Who satisfies the hunger that no earthly sustenance can fill.  He is the Word made flesh. He will fill you with His love and preserve you with His Spirit.  He is your perfect serving and portion.

Jesus is your daily bread.  He is the Manna come down from heaven. Feast on His goodness and mercy.  Devour His Word and hide it in your heart. Consume His wisdom and understanding. Partake of His knowledge and apply it to your life.  Drink in His love and quench your parched soul with His grace.  What else would you need to survive besides bread and water?

Where should we go?  Straight to Jesus – He is all you need…

 photos courtesy of The Gospel According to Matthew (1994)

 Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”.  It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. 

http://www.Godmissionpossible.com

Where Should We Go? Need Answers?

Christ's Death, Burial and Resurrection

In the hymn “Christ Arose”, Robert Lowry expresses the hope conveyed during this Easter season in the rousing chorus as it explodes with joy:

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

  And He lives forever with His saints to reign,

  He arose!  He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Our Lord Jesus left the confines of this earth and stepped into the heavenly realm on Resurrection Sunday, three days after dying on a wooden cross for humanity’s sins on Mount Calvary.  This is precisely why Christians celebrate the Easter Season. 

We know from Scripture that Jesus made several appearances after His resurrection, but what significance does this event hold for you and me today? 

John Chapter 20 records Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week, that being Sunday. Mary Magdalene had come to the tomb early, while it was still cloaked in darkness.  She saw that the stone in front of the tomb had been rolled away.  Upon hearing her report, Peter and John ran to the tomb and discovered “the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself” (vs. 7).  After they departed, Mary stood outside weeping, peering inside the tomb.  She conversed with two angels and explained that someone had taken away the body [of her Lord] and turning, she saw a man she perceived to be the gardener.  Jesus lovingly and compassionately spoke to her, “Mary!”  He assured her that He was; “ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” 

In Luke 24:13-32, we have the account of Christ appearing on the road to Emmaus.  Two followers of Jesus were traveling and conversing about all of the events of the past few days concerning Jesus of Nazareth.  Unbeknown to them, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.  They told Him all of the hopes and dreams of many in Jerusalem who thought the prophet would accomplish in order to redeem their beloved Israel.  They even mentioned it had been three days since it happened, and that certain women had discovered His tomb empty.  Then in verses 25-26 Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”

Later, in Luke 24:33-48, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of His disciples as they gathered in Jerusalem to pray saying, “Peace to you.”  He showed them that He is flesh, not spirit, and proceeded to instruct them about His fulfilling what was written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Himself.  Even those who doubted His appearing finally proclaimed who He was.  Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!”   

Now turn to John chapter 21.  Jesus appears to seven of the disciples after a long night of fishing.  They caught nothing.  But in the morning, Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”  After an answer of “No”, He then said, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”   The disciples dragged the net, full of large fish to the shore, and after eating breakfast they knew it was Him, though they were afraid to question Him.  Then in chapter 21:15-23 we witness the personal conversation between Jesus and Peter.  Jesus is tenderly restoring Peter to Himself by asking Peter three times if he loved Him.  Jesus tells him, “Feed My lambs”, “Tend My sheep”, and “Feed My sheep”.   Jesus is preparing Peter for the work ahead as leader of the church after He has departed.   Then He tells Peter to set his sight on Him and “Follow Me.”  Peter asks about the other disciple, and Jesus tells him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me.” 

So what do we glean from the Lord’s visitations to His followers after He was raised?  How do we apply those same lessons and revelations to our lives?  We discover that we experience the very same things as did the earliest disciples.   Jesus is still:
  
Giving a gentle touch and reassurance, as He did with Mary at the tomb;

Expounding truth and wisdom to us, like He did on the road to Emmaus 
Stilling fear and uneasiness, as He did for the disciples in the upper room;

Blessing and bestowing a commission to us, as He did for his followers;

Providing for and encouraging His children, as He did for His disciples; 
Restoring and leading you and me, as He did for one of His dearest disciples.

Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection gives us reason for celebration as we rejoice in the Lamb’s blood, marvel at the Father’s acceptance, and glory in our eternal salvation secured by Heaven’s cherished and earth’s gift from above…

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”.  It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. 

http://www.godmissionpossible.com/

You can visit Faithful Bloggers at  http://faithfulbloggers.com/

Christ's Death, Burial and Resurrection