“Mary Did You Know?”
The song, “Mary Did You Know?” Is composed of several rhetorical questions, asking if Mary knew that her baby, Jesus, would one day walk on water, heal the sick, or save humanity.
The song reflects on the wonder and awe of the Christmas story, focusing on the miraculous nature of Christ’s birth and Mary’s role as His mother.
Songwriter Mark Lowry had written the words to “Mary, Did You Know?” in 1984 as part of the script for a church Christmas play. For years Lowry looked for the right musical setting, without success. It wasn’t until 1991, after he had joined the Gaither Vocal Band, that Lowry showed the lyrics to Buddy Greene, a renowned southern gospel songwriter who was touring with the band that year, and Greene quickly penned the music for the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” which was first recorded by Michael English, one of Lowry’s fellow band-members. Over the years, many well-known artists have covered the song, including Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd, Pentatonix (a famous a cappella group; my personal favorite), Mark Lowry himself, Clay Aiken, and The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, to name a few.
But listen! The answer to that question is a resounding YES! Mary sang her own song of rejoicing and praise!
Of the four gospels, Luke’s is the only one to speak of Mary’s song. Her words are found in Luke 1:46-55. Mary is visiting with her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Upon that visit, Elizabeth asked in verse 43, “How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Mary is aware that she is going to give birth to the Christ child. The angel Gabriel has spoken to her and shared God’s plan. But it seems that when she hears Elizabeth’s question, she is overtaken with a spirit of praise.
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.” [i]
Mary’s song is a song of praise. She is not just sharing her thoughts with her cousin. She is saying that the Lord is great, and her spirit is rejoicing with the news that has come to her.
Why Is Mary’s Song significant?
One might wonder why Mary’s song would be considered significant. Are they not just words spoken in a moment of happiness? The truth is that her song speaks of who she is and how deep her faith is. In verses 46-47 she says, “My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary’s faith is rooted in Jewish tradition. We can surmise that she has come from a devout Jewish family and she believes in the God of her ancestors.
Her faith is further established in verses 48-50. Here she speaks of God looking on a humble servant with favor. She acknowledges that God is taking her humble status and using it to exalt her for generations to come. In verse 49 Mary says that she will be called blessed because “the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy.” She praises God for the mercy he bestows on all who will fear him.
In the last four verses of her song, she speaks of the wondrous things God has done for her ancestors, for her, and for all who will believe. Her recognition of the mighty deeds God has performed and the mercies He has given to the people of Israel is significant. She is telling us that while she may be nervous about her situation, she knows God has it all under control. He would not give her this blessing only to abandon her.
During this special time of year, we celebrate Advent by reading the words of Luke as he tells the Christmas story. The birth of Christ marks a time when hope is revived, and love is shared with everyone. In the Gospel of Luke, we find Mary’s song. She is praising the God who has chosen her to be the mother of His only son. Her words are powerful and hold lessons we can learn today.
Mary’s song, also known as the Magnificat, is an inspiring piece of Scripture. Her words are profound in the face of what she was about to do. We don’t know what she was thinking regarding the pregnancy. We don’t have a written word that describes her fear of what others will think or how they will treat her. All we have are these magnificent words that reveal her praises to God.
The message for us is that we are to have faith. We are to trust in our God. No matter the situation or circumstance, God has it all in his hands. We should strive to imitate the heart and mind of Mary in every situation. Her words are not just for the Advent season, they are for all seasons. [i]
Blessings to all, and HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Sandra
[i] Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. [ii] Portions about the Magnificat are credited to Ashley Hooper, who is a freelance writer passionate about missions. She has collaborated with mission teams in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, and Vermont. Presently, she lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children, where she fulfills roles as a pastor's wife, a dance mom, and a farm girl.