Mary knew she had conceived. Elisabeth carried John. Mary went to visit Elisabeth. At this meeting Mary made a statement that has an impact on us all. I’m thankful these words are truth and have been shared with us. What was the most wonderful to Mary was that God regarded the low estate of her person. This is what makes Christmas. God regards us as such that he came here to earth.
Luke 1:41 “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.”
For he has regarded our low estate—the message sent to us is the same that Mary received. Elisabeth had the knowledge and intuition of what was going on. She knew that her son was conceived for the purpose of being the forerunner of Jesus. Before God was incarnate in her womb, Mary gave herself to God’s will. God saw that she believed. He made a good choice by choosing her. He didn’t go to the wealthy or noble. He didn’t go for social status. God the Father chose an insignificant, poor young virgin girl in the most unlikely place. The town had the worst reputation around. It was even said “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Yet living where she did Mary tried to do right. She maintained her purity. She believed in God. In her low estate, having very little, this young girl from the lower class was chosen.
She may have been uneducated. She was probably looked down upon. This same foolishness goes on today. There is a total disregard for others. High self regard is the way of the times. Many think too highly of themselves. Herod regarded himself highly. He built a great, ornate temple in order to gain the political favor of the Jews. Yet he ordered the slaughter of all those babies. It’s not what we think we are in our own eyes or even what we are in the eyes of others that matters. It’s God that matters.
Elisabeth said “And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” It struck Mary afresh that through her genetics she would enable the immortal God to become man in order that fallen man could be saved. John was conceived in a fallen way. Not Jesus. He was not born a fallen baby. Every step he took from the cradle to the grave did not fail. He went all the way. Mary and Elisabeth usually met with the common greeting of “hello, Mary” and “hello Elisabeth.” At this meeting Elisabeth called Mary the “mother of my Lord.”
Mary didn’t feel elevated. Instead she felt how unworthy she was. She was amazed that God became flesh; the Messiah would be a human being. What amazed her more was how God thought of her. “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”
It’s the wonder of Christmas and Christianity. He has regarded the whole human race. Before the first Christmas sale in September we already had the best present in the Son of God. Gifts we give are with regard to who we give them to. God looked to the lowliest, most nobody girl. She was one of millions of girls, and God chose her. He regarded her no matter what she thought of herself or what others thought of her. God gave her the gift of being the mother of his son.
None of us deserve what God has done, but I can’t imagine my state of being with God. Mary said “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.”
This was a promise kept. Why? It’s because God loves us. Regardless of our low estate—how low or how far down we go—God regards us where we are. He gave his son. The estate of our health, our finances, and the conditions around us are not important. Paul said he had learned to be content in whatever state his life was in. Complete love regarded you and me. “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.” Can we not all say he has done great things for us?
The person we are and what we have and enjoy are not to anyone’s credit but God’s. Jesus in our heart makes whatever estate we’re in enjoyable, in this life and eternity. Mary said “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” Isn’t it time we magnified and rejoiced in the Lord, and not in ourselves? He regarded our estate and became one of us to save us. May we regard Him with all our hearts.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 