MARY KNEW

There's a beautiful song written and composed by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene that suggests Mary didn't have a clue. However, there is solid Scriptural evidence that Mary did indeed know. She knew exactly what had happened; she had a fair idea of what price she would be required to pay for her willingness to be the one chosen to bear the Son of God. As a humble young Israelite woman, she was willing to pay a price that most of us would find it difficult to accept.

"Mary Did You Know?" is an amazing song that uniquely stirs the emotions for most people around Christmas time each year.  But a closer look at the lyrics leaves us wondering if the lyricists were more focused on stirring an emotional response rather than building a powerful testimony based on accepted Scriptural authority.

Mary's Hymn of Praise

"My soul magnifies the LORD, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." (Luke 1:47-55)

I can't help it! I love the song. It's the music, the sentiment, the passionate drawing of the imagination and emotions into a difficult, if not impossible, scenario for any woman at any age to fathom. Yet, the Scriptures tell us she wasn't clueless nor did she wonder who the child born from her virgin womb was, the One she had just given birth to ... she wasn't taken by surprise.

Mary wasn't some clueless child. One blogger described her as a "warrior-woman,” and I would have to agree. He wrote, "She not only knew, she willingly consented to the angel’s remarkable calling, saying: 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word' (Luke 1:38)".

He went on to write: "Mary, who had trampled heavily pregnant 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to give birth in a stranger’s home, and who then hauled her child 400 more miles to safety in Egypt, well, she wasn’t one to be trifled with."

Obedient. Submissive. Devout. Humble. Surrendered. A handmaid of the LORD giving herself wholly to the LORD. Mary wasn’t ignorant of the challenges such a level of surrender would bring.

Mary knew the Gift she carried, gave birth to, nursed at her breast, and nurtured through childhood. Familiar with the Prophets of old, she knew the time would soon come when a virgin like herself would be chosen to bear the One called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

She went to amazing lengths to protect His little life, not because she questioned whose face she kissed when she kissed the Child, but because Mary KNEW the day of her visitation. She KNEW the miracle of the seed planted in her womb. And more, she WITNESSED an unborn child leap in his mother's womb upon meeting her. A child who also miraculously grew within his aged and barren mother's womb – a child destined to prepare the way for the Christ Child she bore.

I will always love the song because of the haunting melody that evokes an ethereal passion. Without a doubt, the musical score was intentionally and skillfully crafted to draw an emotional response from the listener. Even before a single word is sung, one can easily be carried away on the melody as if on a heavenly journey leading to a worshipful and prayerful posture in the presence of the KING of kings and LORD of lords.

Mary did indeed know the One she wrapped in swaddling cloths, the One of whom the angels sang, "Glory to God in the Highest!" She willingly agreed to be the Chosen One to wholly and totally offer her life regardless of the cost.

Let's not be fooled by the lyrics ... let's stop questioning what she knew. She knew without a doubt the unique set of circumstances that led up to that glorious morning when the Light of the world appeared, overcoming the darkness of ages past, present, and future.

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior ..." (Luke 1:46-47)

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© 2019 Jan Ross
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