What Did Mary Know

One of my favorite Christmas songs was written by Mark Lowry. It is called “Mary Did You Know?” The song lyrics ask Mary if she knew the eventual significance and salvation her son, Jesus Christ, would have for mankind and the miracles He would perform. One stanza reads: “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”.

Mary didn’t understand everything her son would be and do but the Bible tells us that after the birth of Jesus, Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19). Mark Lowry’s song asks: “Mary did you know?” I would like to consider what Mary did know.

In Luke 1:26-38 God sent the angel Gabriel to give Mary a glorious message. Because of that message there were several facts that Mary did know for sure. First, she knew that God chose her for a very special mission. The angel told her that she would be a part of a glorious miracle. She, being a virgin, would give birth to a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. She also knew the name of the child. He will be called Jesus. He also would be addressed by other titles: Son of the Highest, Holy One, and Son of God. She also had some concept of the coming reign of her son over Israel and the world. When she took Jesus to the temple at 8 days old Simeon spoke of the greatness of her son but also mentioned that a sword would pierce her heart. That sword spoke of the coming death of her son on a cross.

There is one more thing that Mary did know. She knew God as her Savior. She, even though highly favored by God understood that she too was a sinner in need of a Savior. In her prayer she prayed to God my Savior (Luke 1:47). She didn’t know the whole story, but she willingly obeyed. We who know the whole story should believe it and proclaim it.