Mary’s song, the Magnificat, is in a way the first Christmas carol. In fact, we should say that Mary, in a sense, is the first Christian. She’s not the first person saved, not the first believer in God, but she’s the first Christian in that she’s the first person who actually finds her life changed by the Christmas message, by the message God is becoming a human being.

Mary is a great model for us today because when she hears the Christmas message, she’s changed. She’s totally changed. She therefore is a model for us. She sings about three things in here. She understands the message of Christmas, and so she’s singing about it. She sings about God’s nature, his purposes. And then she sings about his adequacy.

This sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on December 6, 1992. Series "Advent 1992". Scripture: Luke 1:46-55.

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