The Song of Hope

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. Luke 1, 46-47 Dear Heavenly Father, In the quiet moments of this Christmas season, we will pause to lift our souls in praise to you. Like Mary, we rejoice in your goodness. As we decorate our homes, share gifts, and gather with loved ones, Let our souls continue to glorify you and remember that you are the greatest gift of all. Help us to remember that the joy we feel is not just the festive atmosphere, but the profound truth that our Savior has come. May this joy be a wellspring from our souls, an enduring testament of our gratitude and love for you. Father, let our spirits echo Mary's song throughout this season and all year round, glorifying you and rejoicing in the salvation you have brought through Jesus Christ. In the precious name of our Savior, we pray. 00:01:17 Speaker 2: Amen. 00:01:19 Speaker 1: Thank you for taking time to pray today. Get ready to dive back into the Christmas story with Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider. 00:01:37 Speaker 3: Night had fallen over Zachariah and Elizabeth's house, wrapping the world in a blanket of cool serenity. The skies were adorned in splendour, with splashes of light covering the firmament like paint to a canvas. It was as though nature was leaning in to partake in the divine story below. The home was quiet and unperturbed, except for the slight stirring of Mary. The nausea of pregnancy kept her awake, groaning and staring blankly at the walls. She took deep breaths, attempting to relieve her stomach's churning, but nothing would do. I just want to sleep, Mary sighed to herself. She tossed and turned, but sleep eluded her. Finally, she wrapped herself up and stepped outside. The air was cool and crisp, hearkening to the beginning of winter. She could see her breath leaving her mouth. The fresh air was soothing and gradually relieved her nausea. She looked outward, feeling a tug towards the hill. God was calling her forward. 00:02:38 Speaker 4: Hello, everyone, and welcome to another Christmas episode of the Jesus Podcast. I'm Ethan from Pray.com. This season, we're immersing ourselves in the drama, depth, and devotion of the Christmas story. People often recognize the Christmas story as Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in a barn surrounded by shepherds and wise men, but the story has many more layers than that. There was internal conflict, cultural pressure, and the threat of violence around every corner. Today, we find ourselves in the middle of Mary's story. She's still wrestling with her role in God's grand plan and has sought refuge with her cousin Elizabeth, who's also with child. Elizabeth and Zechariah welcomed Mary and gave her space to ponder God's plan. Their acceptance and warm home became a haven for Mary as she contemplated her future. The Christmas story can become almost too familiar to us. So familiar that we forget the human struggle of these people. Mary had a tremendous existential weight on her shoulders. Yet, throughout her journey, she remained unwavering and steadfast. This episode will showcase Mary's struggle with her identity. She's a young woman from an unremarkable town. She didn't come from royalty or riches. nor was she more eloquent or charismatic than the others. In the coolness of night under the stars, Mary asks, Why me? Her question reflects the sentiment of many who feel unworthy of God's grace. Several of you may think your past sins or status might exclude you from the grace of God. Mary will realize that God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called. Let's dive back into our story, where Mary's prayers turn into a beautiful hymn of worship and redemption. Afterward, we'll unwrap the story together and discover new Christmas themes. 00:04:56 Speaker 3: Mary looked up. The sky was radiant, glowing with heavenly beauty. Mary was drawn to the light above her as if an unseen thread of destiny pulled her upward. Her feet led her to a secluded spot up a winding path. She weaved through some trees to a small clearing bathed in the star's shimmer. The delicate fragrance of night jasmine lingered in the air. She felt as if she was on holy ground. She was alone, yet far from lonely. The rhythm of her heart in sync with her child's. She looked up at the stars and held her belly. 00:05:30 Speaker 5: How could it be that the maker of the stars would dwell within me? 00:05:34 Speaker 1: She thought. 00:05:36 Speaker 3: Mary was overwhelmed with the thought, the Almighty chose her. As she looked up at the heavens, she wondered what Abraham must have felt long ago when God chose him to bear the promises of God. But I am lowly, she whispered to the Lord. 00:05:52 Speaker 5: I am, I am nothing. 00:05:55 Speaker 3: The wind picked up slightly, caressing Mary's cheek. 00:05:59 Speaker 5: Yet you call me blessed. 00:06:01 Speaker 3: The branches behind her began to rock with the breeze, and the cold wind blew petals of jasmine up and around Mary. Her silent prayers soon began to morph into something more elaborate and beautiful. In her heart, a melody started to form, a cascade of notes flowing freely from the wellspring of her spirit, a hymn inspired by the divine assurance growing within her. The words escaped her lips, rising in the chill night air. 00:06:30 Speaker 5: My soul magnifies the Lord my spirit rejoices in his name in his grace he saw his humble servant and forever now I am called blessed and will proclaim his wonderful spectacular name from now on all generations will call me blessed for the mighty one has done great things for For me Holy, holy, holy Is his name His mercy is for those Who believe He has shown his strength With his mighty arm Scattered the proud Humbled the heart He toppled the mighty From their thrones Lifted the humble And set them apart From now all generations will call me blessed. For the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy, holy, holy is his name. His mercy is for those who believe. He fills the hungry with the good. Sends away the rich with empty hands. In his love he remembers Israel. In mercy he fulfills his eternal plans. 00:08:03 Speaker 2: From now on all generations will call me blessed. For the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy, holy, holy is his name. His mercy is. 00:08:17 Speaker 5: For those who believe. He spoke to our father Abraham. To his offspring his promise forever stands. So my soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in his hands. 00:08:40 Speaker 3: Her voice was a river of sound flowing forth in harmonious strains that seemed to dance with the twinkling stars. In her solitude, Mary sang. She sang not just with her voice, but with her soul. Her song was a testament to her growing faith. Her melodies echoed throughout the silent night. They were a psalm born from the heart of a young woman who had accepted her divine purpose with humility and grace. The stars seemed to lean closer as she sang, drawn by the strength and conviction of her voice. She could feel a peace descending upon her with every word. Praise was the antidote to her fear. She was Mary, chosen among women, destined to bring the savior into the world and despite the challenges and trials she knew would come she embraced her destiny in that moment mary's song eventually drifted into the silence yet its echoes lingered interwoven with the night she turned back towards elizabeth's house her heart alight with newfound confidence she was no longer just mary of nazareth she was mary mother of the messiah a beacon of faith chosen to fulfill a divine prophecy The cold night no longer chilled her. Instead, it felt like a comforting shroud wrapping her in a blanket of divine purpose and destiny. As she slowly returned down the hill, she heard a faint cry in the distance. The voice cried out. Mary quickened her pace to see Elizabeth's maidservant rushing through the door. A smile curled over Mary's cold cheeks. Elizabeth was going into labour. 00:10:16 Speaker 4: In the Nativity narrative, we find a gem of worship and faith, Mary's Magnificat, a passionate song of praise found in Luke 1, verses 46-56. This passage reveals much about the theme of worship and the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of believers, especially as we reflect upon it during the Christmas season. Worship is not merely an act of ritual. It's a profound expression of love, adoration, gratitude, and surrender to God. Mary's song epitomizes this. It springs from a heart full of awe and wonder at God's goodness. My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. As Mary worships, she can genuinely realize her identity. This happens to us as we give honor and praise to God What we worship informs our identity. The worship of money changes people into greedy and prideful people. The worship of substances changes people into shells of their former selves and slaves to addiction. Worship of God transforms us from aimless wanderers to children of purpose. During the Christmas season, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we're reminded to pause in the busyness of the season, to take moments to worship as Mary did, to marvel at God's love for us revealed in the gift of His Son. This kind of worship is crucial for our spiritual, mental, and emotional health. It draws us closer to God, reorients our perspective towards gratitude, and helps us to manage life's challenges with faith and hope. Mary's song mentions Abraham. In Luke 1, verses 54 and 55, she sings, He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever. As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever. This moment in Mary's song, is one of them. Mary's faith, like Abraham's, was not based on sight, but on the promises of God. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations in Genesis chapter 15 verse 5. Abraham, looking up at the stars, believed God, even though he was childless then. Similarly, Mary, looking at her own condition, accepted the angel's proclamation, and behold, You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Luke chapter 1 verse 31. Her faith-filled response was, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word. Luke chapter 1 verse 38. Like Abraham, Mary believed God's promise despite her circumstances. Her faith was confirmed and celebrated in her song of worship when she said, He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to His offspring forever. As we celebrate Christmas, let us be reminded of the faith of Mary and Abraham. They looked beyond their circumstances to the promises of God trusting in His goodness and faithfulness. Their examples of faith-filled worship continue to inspire us, nurturing our spiritual, mental, and emotional health. So, as we gaze upon the nativity scene this Christmas, let us lift our own songs of praise and magnify the Lord for His indescribable gift. Let us, like Mary and Abraham, have faith in God's promises. rejoicing in His faithfulness and goodness to us during Christmas and throughout our lives. This episode left us with the cries of Elizabeth, who's about to give birth to an important figure, John the Baptist. Join us for our next episode of Stories of the Messiah as we explore the greater depths of the Nativity.