The Promised One: Advent Day 20

Read & Journal

Turn your attention to Luke 1:39-56. As you ponder what you’ve just read, consider these journaling prompts:

• Meditate on what you’ve just read, then jot down the key points in your journal, using your own words.

• What does this passage teach you about God the Father or his character?

• As you read Mary’s song of praise, what do you learn about Jesus? About his mission or purpose?

• When Mary visited Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy. When has the good news of Jesus been great joy for you?

• How will you choose to rest in that joy today? Outline at least one specific way.

• Mary’s song, called the Magnificat (“magnifies”) from the first word in the Latin translation, stresses how God cares for those who are oppressed. How have you seen that to be true in Scripture? In your own life?

• If you were writing your own song of praise to God today, what words or phrases would you include? What aspects of his character would you point out? Would you include specific situations from your own life where you have seen him show up? Jot down a few of these things in your journal. (A list is fine! You don’t have to write a song unless you want to.)

Ponder

Mulling over the news the angel had just delivered to her, Mary made her way to visit Elizabeth. As a relative of Elizabeth’s, Mary likely knew at least a little of Elizabeth and Zechariah’s story. To be a childless couple in that culture, well, they would have stuck out. For Elizabeth to be six months pregnant at her age—let’s just say it probably fueled the village gossip (for more than one village).

As Mary approached, Elizabeth’s baby, John the Baptist, jumped in her womb, already fulfilling the role to which he had been called. Mary may have still been contemplating the angel’s announcement, but Elizabeth understood its importance. God’s promise of the Messiah, of salvation of a kingdom that would never end—it was all coming true right in their own lives. God was making all things new, and the women responded with worship and praise.

Mary’s song extolled God’s faithfulness and his mercy, his power and his gracious love. He was a God who cares for the oppressed and “fills the hungry with good things.” God’s kingdom was at hand, bringing salvation to a rejected and oppressed people. Remember Isaiah 9? The people who walked in great darkness were about to see a great light. Jesus was coming into the world to set the oppressed free, and it was news of great joy.

Christmas is a season of great joy—but the source of that joy isn’t in the gifts, the decorations or the celebrations. It’s Jesus. He hasn’t come to make our lives better or to make sure we’re always happy—he has come to set us free.

From the chains of sin. From addiction and depression. From fear, anxiety and worry. From ourselves.

Rest in that great news today. You don’t have to remain in those chains.