MARY KNEW

She Wasn't Some Clueless Child

The song indicates Mary didn't have a clue but there is Scriptural evidence that Mary knew! She knew exactly what had happened and what would be required of her. As a humble young Israelite woman, she was willing to pay a price about which most of us would think twice."Mary Did You Know?" is a beautiful song that stirs the emotions in a unique way for most people around Christmas time each year.  But a closer look at the lyrics leave us wondering if the lyricists were more focused on stirring an emotional response rather than building on the basis of 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 to possibly fathom. Yet, the Scriptures tell us she knew without a doubt Who the child who grew in her womb, 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 tramped 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 knew full well 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. She WITNESSED an unborn child who, also miraculously, grew within his aged and barren mother's womb -- a child destined to prepare the way for the Child she bore.

I'll probably always love the song because of the haunting melody that itself evokes an ethereal passion as though intentionally written into the music score itself. Without a word, one can easily be carried away on the melody as if on a heavenly journey leading to a worshipful and prayerful state 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 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).