MARY – What Did You Know?
Being a huge fan of GOOD music, regardless of it’s “genre,” I am often amazed when Christian music and so-called secular music collide. I say collide because many in Christian music don’t feel you can “properly” honor God if you record music in the non-Christian or secular world.
This view point is incredibly narrow and quite frankly, not at all in keeping with a TRUE Christian mindset. Believing this is tantamount to saying unless you go to my kind of church, you can’t be a Christian. While many convenient Christians seem to think this way, it is not true to what Jesus nor the Father has taught us.
In fact, there are many Christian based songs that are written and recorded in the “secular” world. Songs from Randy Travis (Forever and Ever, Amen – Three Wooden Crosses), George Strait (Love Without End, Amen), and Brad Paisley (With an assist from Dolly Parton -When I Get Where I’m Goin), just to name a few. But I want to focus on one song that gives me pause to truly open my mind, think, and imagine, every time I hear it.
The song in question is “Mary Did You Know?” This tune is a modern Christmas song created in the late 20th century. The lyrics are asking Mary if she knew the eventual significance and salvation her son, Jesus Christ, would have for mankind and the miracles He would perform.
Ironically this song was originally a Christian artists song but has become so popular, that it has been sung and recorded by hundreds of artists over the years, across multiple genres. The song was written by Mark Lowry in 1984, and music written by Buddy Greene in 1991.
In 1996, the song received its first major airplay when it was performed as a duet, recorded by Wynonna Judd and Kenny Rogers on Rogers' holiday album The Gift. This would be the first time the song hit the charts and was widely played on radio with some television appearances as well.
In the song, the writers and singers ask some incredibly interesting questions. They take the viewpoint of the Virgin Mother Mary and her relationship with her divine son, Jesus Christ. They ponder of what it must have been like to know the son Mary was raising and nurturing was actually the Son of God. Many “Christian” analysts don’t care for the song because they say it ignores, or at least discounts, Mary’s incredible love of God and her trust and total faith in Him. At best I can give them a “maybe,” but I do think the song helps show us what an incredible woman, or more accurate, young girl, that Mary was.
Mary was believed to be a young girl, likely in her early teens. She was promised to Joseph to be his eventual wife, in line with the customs of that time. It is quite obvious, from the writings of that time, that she was a deeply devout worshipper of God and she was tremendously loyal to His Word. Because of this, she was also incredibly loving and caring for every person she knew or encountered.
When the Angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her she had found favor from God and would be so blessed to give birth to Jesus, she was a bit startled and confused, but she never doubted, argued with, or contradicted Gabriel’s message from God. Mary said “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Yes, Mary had incredible faith. Her love for God could not be questioned and her incredible love and trust would bring us the Savior of the world; Jesus Christ.
Because of her incredible faith, dedication, and commitment, I do feel the lyrics of this song help to emphasize how incredible Mary’s love and commitment were. Let us not forget, these were troubling times for all Jewish people. They were oppressed and most were very poor. Add to this that Mary was now pregnant and not yet married, an offense that could have had her killed; stoned to death. She also risked abandonment and ridicule from her husband to be Joseph. Mary went on to risk EVERYTHING to be faithful to God.
As you think about the lyrics of this song, imagine if you will this young teenage girl, having such incredible faith and devotion. The questions posed by these lyrics, may have never entered Mary’s mind because of such faith and trust in God. But I do feel they help give us some context as to just how incredible Mary truly was!!!
Here are the lyrics to Mary Did You Know:
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God
Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb
Mary did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am
Oh, Mary, did you know?
