Luke 1:47
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Mary, in her song of praise, called God “my Saviour”. Thus, she acknowledged the reality of sin that had held her in the shackles of guilt and dread. She was like all other sinners in great need of a saviour. Now God has graciously provided a Saviour – through her – for herself and for all sinners who would come to Him in repentance and faith. Her joyful spirit that moved her to sing praises to God is an indication of how greatly she valued the gift of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.
More than being a mother to Christ, she rejoiced in that He would be born as her Saviour. He was Mary’s Saviour, as He would die to deliver her from eternal death and thereby to give her eternal life. She sought to take no glory in being chosen to be the mother of the Saviour. She was too overwhelmed with joy that her God has come to be her Saviour!
Mary’s joy was a deep-seated elation. She exclaimed, “my spirit hath rejoiced”. It was no superficial, transient pleasure, but a joy lodged deeply within her. It filled her soul. She could not have experienced any greater gladness than the joy of having a great Saviour!
Mary’s joy was the joy of a sinner who had found her salvation. The greatest joy that can fill the heart of a sinner is that God has become his Saviour. Like Mary, all of us must exult in that a mighty divine Saviour has come for us. Her song of joy in the divine Saviour is the grandest and purest joy which all the saints of God in all ages have experienced. David attested, “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation” (Psalm 35:9). Isaiah exulted, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2). The prophet Zechariah proclaimed, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9).
Praise flowing out of a saved sinner is indeed wonderful. The joy of a once ruined soul that is now restored, coupled with thanksgiving and song unto God, is most heavenly. Like that of Mary’s, his joy is not about his own glory, but about God who has saved him. Acceptable worship before the Lord is that of a sinner who has found his salvation and joy in his God.