Mary Did You Know....?
"Mary Did You Know?" is a popular contemporary Christmas song that is heard more and more in Evangelical Christian circles. It's melody is quite pretty and compelling. The lyrics also ask a series of poignant questions, wondering if Mary knew just who this little boy of hers was.
Did she know her son would save our sons and daughters? Did she know this boy that she delivered would one day deliver her? Did she know that her son would perform all sorts of miracles? Did she know that when she kissed his face she kissed God? Did she know that he was Lord of all creation, ruler of the nations, the great "I am?"
Part of the reason for the poignancy of the lyrics, I think, is due to the underlying assumption with which they were written and are sung: that Mary didn't know. And isn't that ironic? Isn't it touching?
But what does the Bible tell us about Jesus' birth and what Mary knew or didn't know?
When Gabriel came to Mary to tell her that she would give birth to a son by the power of the Holy Spirit, he also told her that this son would be the Son of the Most High, would sit on the throne of his father David, that his kingdom would never end, that he would be a holy one and the Son of God (see Luke 1:26-38).
Mary's betrothed Joseph was told by an angel to take Mary as his wife because the son she would bear was from the Holy Spirit and was to be named Jesus since he would save his people from their sins (see Matt. 2:20-21). Joseph must surely have told Mary about this.
When Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth wondered why she was so favored to receive a visit from the mother of her Lord (see Luke 1:43), language reserved for God.
Mary's response was to praise God, glorifying the Lord and rejoicing in God her Savior (see Luke 1:46-55 for Mary's wonderful song of praise).
The shepherds who came to visit the newborn Jesus had been told by the angel who visited them that this child was their savior, Christ the Lord (see Luke 2:5-12). I'm sure they told Mary and Joseph about this.
When Jesus was taken to the Temple for the proper rites, the man Simeon took the boy in his arms and filled with the Holy Spirit thanked God for allowing him to see God's promised salvation (see Luke 2:25-32).
It is true that Mary and Joseph marveled at the things said about their son (Luke 2:33). But I think it is also true that because of the things said to them they knew who he was.
To answer the question of the song: did Mary know?
Yeah. She knew.
Did she know her son would save our sons and daughters? Did she know this boy that she delivered would one day deliver her? Did she know that her son would perform all sorts of miracles? Did she know that when she kissed his face she kissed God? Did she know that he was Lord of all creation, ruler of the nations, the great "I am?"
Part of the reason for the poignancy of the lyrics, I think, is due to the underlying assumption with which they were written and are sung: that Mary didn't know. And isn't that ironic? Isn't it touching?
But what does the Bible tell us about Jesus' birth and what Mary knew or didn't know?
When Gabriel came to Mary to tell her that she would give birth to a son by the power of the Holy Spirit, he also told her that this son would be the Son of the Most High, would sit on the throne of his father David, that his kingdom would never end, that he would be a holy one and the Son of God (see Luke 1:26-38).
Mary's betrothed Joseph was told by an angel to take Mary as his wife because the son she would bear was from the Holy Spirit and was to be named Jesus since he would save his people from their sins (see Matt. 2:20-21). Joseph must surely have told Mary about this.
When Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth wondered why she was so favored to receive a visit from the mother of her Lord (see Luke 1:43), language reserved for God.
Mary's response was to praise God, glorifying the Lord and rejoicing in God her Savior (see Luke 1:46-55 for Mary's wonderful song of praise).
The shepherds who came to visit the newborn Jesus had been told by the angel who visited them that this child was their savior, Christ the Lord (see Luke 2:5-12). I'm sure they told Mary and Joseph about this.
When Jesus was taken to the Temple for the proper rites, the man Simeon took the boy in his arms and filled with the Holy Spirit thanked God for allowing him to see God's promised salvation (see Luke 2:25-32).
It is true that Mary and Joseph marveled at the things said about their son (Luke 2:33). But I think it is also true that because of the things said to them they knew who he was.
To answer the question of the song: did Mary know?
Yeah. She knew.
Labels: Music
