Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, God Loves Israel
by David Chadwick
Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:46-56 depicts a profound display of praise and adoration from Mary toward God. In the Latin Vulgate translation, “magnificat” means “magnifies.” These verses are designed to purely magnify the Lord God.
In verses 54 and 55, Mary 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.”
These verses mark a shift in Mary from praise for what God had done for her personally to praise for what this child would do for Israel. Mary knew that this gift of a Savior would be the greatest display of salvation that Israel had ever seen. Jesus would fulfill the promise of a Messiah, as promised throughout the Old Testament.
Through Jesus, the Israelites would remember God’s mercy for them in spite of their rebellion. They deserved dispersion and God’s punishment forever. But God, rich in mercy, not only brings the Israelites back to the land, but also shows them mercy, restoration, blessing, and hope.
God spoke to Abraham with covenant promises and then to his offspring through Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. Throughout history, God continued to speak. And now, through Jesus, God would speak again!
Jesus, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, and God in human flesh, would invade a dark world to reclaim all that was lost because of sin. Jesus was the ultimate display that God was not finished with Israel yet and that he still had a plan for salvation for Israel.
God’s love for Israel is clearly seen here. It was revealed through Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, ascension, and Second Coming. But this love didn’t stop with Israel. This message has always been for the masses! The love of Jesus is so radical that it was always designed to spill out onto the whole world. Salvation belongs to Jews and Gentiles, male and female, young and old, rich and poor.
This salvation message has transcended generations and times. The love of God for Israel was the seedbed in which the miracle message of salvation was able to grow, multiply, and touch the ends of the earth.
To you and me. All praise to our God for his lovingkindness!