Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Mary's Magnificat

What is the Magnificat and why is it significant in understanding the incarnation?

The Magnificat refers to Mary's song of praise found in Luke 1:46-55, beginning with "My soul doth magnify the Lord." Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests that it is "worthy of our most careful consideration" and states that "there is no better test of our understanding of the meaning of the incarnation, everything we think of and celebrate during these years, than our reaction to this song of Mary's." Its significance lies in how Mary "brings us face to face with some of the very central matters in connection with our salvation" and demonstrates the proper response to God's redemptive work.

What stages did Mary go through in her response to the angel's announcement?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Mary went through three distinct stages: 1. Initial incredulity and skepticism: "when, first of all, the archangel Gabriel went to her and made his announcement, Mary was incredulous. She was skeptical. She stumbled." 2. Submission without full understanding: "I don't understand it, but I'll submit that's what Mary did... I leave myself in God's hands, still not understanding, but ready to wait and to listen and to follow." 3. Full comprehension and praise: After Elizabeth's greeting, "Mary bursts forth into this great song, this great hymn of praise" showing she had come to a deeper understanding of what God was doing.

What is the difference between "soul" and "spirit" as used in Mary's song?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that while we "mustn't build too much upon it," there is a distinction between soul and spirit in scripture. He states: "The soul in general passes for the rational powers... it is meant to refer to the intellect and to the feelings, the way in which we correspond with one another." Meanwhile, "the spirit rather represents the perception... The spirit is a higher faculty... It includes the capacity for worship." He summarizes that "the soul is that which links us to all that is round and about us" while the spirit connects us to "the unseen and the spiritual."

What does it mean to "magnify the Lord" according to the sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones acknowledges that literally making God greater is impossible, but explains that to magnify the Lord means "we can help other people to see it. We can, as it were, act as a kind of lens that makes him greater in the eyes and in the estimate and in the sight of people." He interprets Mary's expression as saying, "how can I make known what I have seen of the greatness and of the glory of God?" It reflects a "profound way of giving expression to this depth of desire that God might be known and might be seen."

What was the primary cause of Mary's joy and worship according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Mary's joy was not primarily self-centered: "It is not primarily because of what had happened to her. She does mention that it comes in. But that's a mere incident in her hymn of praise." Rather, her joy came from "because God himself is who and what he is and because of what he is doing with respect to the world." He adds, "Mary isn't thinking about herself. Mary has seen something that makes her forget herself" and is rejoicing in "what God is doing, this historic event, this climactic action of God himself."

What attributes of God does Mary emphasize in her Magnificat?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies four key attributes of God that Mary praises: 1. His greatness and glory: "My soul doth magnify the Lord" 2. His power: "He that is Mighty hath done to me great things... He hath showed strength with his arm" 3. His holiness: "And holy is his name" 4. His mercy: "And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation" 5. His faithfulness: "He hath opened his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy as he spake to our fathers"

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones define mercy in relation to grace?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes this distinction: "Grace is love and favor toward those who do not deserve it because of their guilt. Grace is kindness and goodness revealed to those who don't deserve it because they are guilty." Meanwhile, "mercy means love toward those who are not merely guilty, but who are miserable in their guilt and who are miserable because they are guilty." He summarizes: "Grace is more general. Mercy is particular." Mercy is God responding to mankind "in its misery, in its agony, in its pain."

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe God's holiness is connected to salvation?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains: "God is not only the eternal opposite to sin. God is eternally opposed to sin. God hates sin. And it is because God hates sin that there is a salvation." He states clearly that "it is because God hates sin with all the intensity of his holy nature that there is a salvation" and "it is because his name is holy that he must deal with sin, that he must bring in redemption." God's holiness means "he cannot leave the world as it is in sin under the power of the devil."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the hope for the world?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones unequivocally states that the hope for the world does not lie in political conferences or human solutions but in God's power: "Is there any hope for the world this morning? Does it lie in conferences in Paris or somewhere else? Does it lie in the future? No, it doesn't. The world goes round and round in circles. It lacks the power to deal with the situation. But thank God, we are reminded this morning of one that is mighty." The power of God is what ultimately provides salvation for the world.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast true worship with superficial celebration of Christmas?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns about "how this season can be so abused, even in the church, while men talk about themselves and one another and about a Christmas spirit." He contrasts this with true worship: "No, this is the dimension. This is it. It's not just a good feeling of goodwill and a friendliness and of happiness. It is something, if we rarely get hold of it, that moves us in the soul and in the spirit." True worship focuses on God himself rather than superficial sentiments or celebrations.