Did Mary Know?

by Sarah Earlene Shere

I once saw a meme discrediting the classic Christmas song “Mary Did You Know?”. The idea was that a character was singing “Mary, did you know?” and the other character slaps him and says, “Of course she did. Luke 1: 26-35”. The problem with this is that the scripture referred to does not answer the question. Luke 1: 26-35 gives the narrative of the angel Gabriel’s visitation and announcement to Mary. I assume this meme is trying to answer the question posed in the song by specifically referring to Luke 1: 30-35 (AMPC):

“And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace (free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God.

“And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.

“He will be great (eminent) and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David,

“And He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages; and of His reign there will be no end.

“And Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no [intimacy with any man as a] husband?

“Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a shining cloud]; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God.”

The only problem is with trying to use this Holy text to answer the song’s inquiry is, I think most of us can agree, there’s a big difference between being told something and fully comprehending the enormity of it. Yes, Mary was told, and her Baby Boy was prophesied over. But did she “know”, did she fully comprehend the great meaning and awesome truth? How could she? After all, she was only human. Would you fully comprehend the great meaning and awesome truth of a promise or prophecy spoken to you? Do you?

Have you ever been told something that seemed too good to be true? I think most of us have. Considering what’s been told, and who’s said it, may depend on whether or not it is truth or fantasy. Thankfully, when God says it, it’s always truth, and, when He gives it as a promise or prophecy, we can depend on it always coming to fruition! (Isaiah 55:11)

Yes, Mary had head knowledge, but how hard must it have been to truly wrap her young, newly engaged mind around? It could have been five months before Mary ever felt the movement of a baby inside her womb after Gabriel gave her the awesome news! Likely it was five months of joyful anticipation, mixed with fear and doubt.

True, Luke 1: 45-49 (AMPC) shows us a very optimistic, full of faith and trust Mary:

“‘…blessed, happy, to be envied is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord.’ And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies and extols the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked upon the low station and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations of all ages will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be envied! For He Who is almighty has done great things for me—and holy is His name to be venerated in His purity, majesty and glory!’”

Still, there were up to five months after this song of praise of stillness in Mary’s womb. There were, most likely, nine months of gossip and rejection from the little society around her. She (a young virgin) delivered her first Baby among smelly animals in a stable, after a long exhausting journey. Shepherds and wise men told her fantastic stories. An elderly man and woman spoke awesome and fearful prophecies over her and her Newborn Child. But the wonder was not limited to the days and years regarding the birth of Mary’s Baby Boy. She seems to have stood speechless as her Twelve-year-old nearly rebuked her for not knowing where He would be and what He would be doing: going about His “Father’s business”. For thirty years, Mary watched her Son grow into a nondescript, humble, working class Man. (Luke 2)

Had she seen Him ever perform one miracle? Did she know what He was capable of when she leaned toward Him and told Him, at the wedding feast, that there was no more wine? Was this her way of saying, “I know You’ve got this,” or was she saying, “When? When will You bring to pass all the things I heard spoken of You over thirty years ago by that angel,”? (John 2:1-11)

Mightn’t have Mary’s head begun to swim as the next three years went by in a whirlwind? So many stories, so much gossip, so many eye witnesses, so many testimonies, so little time with her Boy anymore, so many whispered death threats. And then to have it all come to a cross and a borrowed tomb! Did Mary know? Did the one whose arms that once held her Baby under the light of a star, to the sound of angels singing, amidst the prophecy of saints really “know” what it all meant when she sat at the foot of the cross cradling the lifeless form of her innocent Child under a dark sky to the sounds of wailing and moaning?

Mary, did you know? We next see Mary sitting in an upper room, waiting with the other disciples for the first outpouring and infilling of the Precious Holy Spirit. Her Son has risen from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and has promised to return for her and all who love and obey Him. (John 14: 1-4 & Acts 1: 4-14) Still, did Mary know? Do you know?

Each of us has been given a promise, a prophecy, either personal or inclusive through God’s word. Do you know these will come to fruition?  Do you know you can trust God in the midst of your star drenched celebration of life as well as surrounded by the stench of death at the foot of your Golgotha? Do YOU know? (Hebrews 11:1 & Romans 8: 24-25)

This Christmas, let us be like Mary, “keeping within (ourselves) all (the promises and prophecies we’ve been given)…weighing and pondering them in our heart(s).” Luke 2:19 AMPC Even though we may “not comprehend what (God) is saying to (us)….(let us keep) and closely and persistently (guard) all these things in (our) heart(s).” Luke 2: 50-51 AMPC

“For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.” Let us, with Mary, declare this Christmas, “Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what (has been) said.” Luke 1:37-38 AMPC

A Very Merry Christmastide to you and yours!