Mary, You Did Know!
Luke 1: 39 – 56
The big news this week has been The Voice finals. Yes, a young man by the name of Jordan Smith captured America’s attention (and their votes) with a stirring rendition of the now classic Christmas song Mary, Did You Know. Smith closed the competition with a song that his coach, Adam Levine, didn’t want him to sing, but in the end, even Levine said Smith made the right choice. If you haven’t seen or heard it, Google Jordan Smith Mary, Did You Know and you’ll find it easily on youtube, and you’ll also discover it’s sitting at number one on iTunes. Impressive…and popular. And, let’s face it, our own Rev. Kem Alexander and the chancel choir did a pretty amazing rendition last week, too. If you missed that one, go back to the archives of our webcast and catch it there.
Mary, Did You Know has become a Christmas classic since Michael English first recorded the song in 1991. The words of the song were written by Christian comedian Mark Lowery with the music written by musician Buddy Green. Lowry said the song evolved as he contemplated sitting with the Virgin Mary over a cup of coffee, and the questions he would ask her. Listen to the lyrics:
Mary did you know that your baby boy will someday 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.
[Verse 2]
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 have kissed the face of God.
Oh Mary did you know
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb
[Verse 3]
Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would 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
Compelling lyrics, and they do make a wonderful song, but long before Lowry and Green put that song together, Mary sang her own song about her little boy, and the words she sang reveal the truth that yes, in fact, Mary did know. Mary lived in an expectant era for the nation of Israel. The Scriptures had promised the coming of the Messiah, and rumors were rampant that he was coming at any time (sound familiar?). The Messiah was going to turn the world around and deliver Israel from all her enemies. He would usher in the kingdom of God. But if those people who were so high with expectation had gone to a stable in the town of Bethlehem they might have said, “That’s it? That’s the Messiah?” No one could have guessed how this child would change the world. No one could have imagined the impact he would have on world history and the change he would make in people’s lives. No one, perhaps, except Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. Yes, Mary you did know!
Mary, you knew that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters. Mary, you knew that this child you delivered would one day deliver you…and all the others who would believe in him. She knew this baby had walked where angels trod, and that when she kissed her little baby, she kissed the face of God. Her song recorded in Luke 1 reveals she did. Her song is called the Magnificat because that’s the first word in the Latin translation of her song, and it’s a song that speaks of the glory and the deliverance and the salvation of God. She knew because her song put the focus squarely on God. Mary shows a maturity that is wise beyond her years.
Let’s remember that Mary is probably around 13 years of age, but certainly not more than 16 years of age. Betrothals were often made when a young lady was 13, and the marriage was generally a year later. It would have been unlikely she would have been much older. It would not have been culturally correct. Seriously, folks, I’m not sure how it was in the first century, but I know how it is in the 21st century. I don’t want to upset anyone, but the 13 year-olds that I have known (and I raised two of them) are rarely focused on anything outside themselves. At that age, they’re more worried about what they’re going to wear and what it’s going to look like…and who is likely to see them in it. I don’t mean any offense, but c’mon…that’s what happens, right? Not Mary. She turns her focus to God. She gives God the glory, and she sings a song of love, a song of hope and a song of faith.
As soon as Mary hears the words of Elizabeth, the questions this child had in her heart quieted, the anxiety abated, the confusion collapsed and the doubts disappeared, and Mary knew in her spirit that what had happened to her was for real. Praise erupted from deep within like an overflowing fountain. The moment that she and her people had waited for so long had finally arrived. God had heard the cries and the longings of His children and the work of salvation had begun.
Mary’s song is made up of images and references to Scriptures from Genesis, from Job, from the Psalms, and from Isaiah and highlights how steeped her thinking was in the Word of God. Now the Pharisees and Sadducees were also steeped in the study of the Scriptures but Jesus would later point out that though they studied the Scriptures that spoke about Him they refused to come to Him instead they rejected the very One they claimed to love and follow. Mary’s song reminds us that it is altogether possible to study the Bible purely as an academic exercise as one might any other book of literature or history, and completely miss the heart of the message. Mary studied the Scriptures as a lover would passionately memorize and consume the letters from her beloved. They not only stimulated her thinking but transformed her heart and mind and soul.
So, from the depths of her being she gives expression to her amazement, her adoration, her worship and love of God that He has singled out a nobody from Nazareth to accomplish His mighty purposes. How in keeping with the character of our God:
• God chose Israel, not because they were a mighty and powerful nation, but because they were the least of all the peoples on earth
• He chose Moses, a child of slaves, to deliver His people
• He chose Gideon who was the least member of the smallest clan of the smallest tribe in Israel
• He chose Samuel while he was just a little boy and David, the youngest and least likely in his family
So that no human being might ever boast in him or herself, thinking that their strength, their wisdom, their beauty, their attractiveness, their ingenuity was what brought things about the glory and honor belongs always and only to God. Mary’s sang a song of love that proves that she knew.
Mary sang a song of hope that proves she knew. She sang of “the great things He has done for me.” The “great things” that God was doing would overcome the world and turn the world right-side-up. She sang about God scattering the proud. She said that he brought down rulers from their thrones and lifted up the humble. He filled the hungry, but sent the rich away with empty hands. In her son, God was turning the tables on the world. Those who were proud and arrogant, having power in this world to oppress others, would be scattered by God. Those who ruled with injustice would be pulled down from their thrones, and the humble servants would be put in their place. Those who used their wealth to oppress the poor would live in spiritual hunger, while those who were the poor of this world would be filled with all the good things of God. Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh” (Luke 6:20-21). He was the Savior who would right the wrongs of the world and would give those who were downtrodden great reason to rejoice.
What this means is that Jesus came for everyone, regardless of their status in the world. The humble are valued by God, and even the arrogant can humble themselves and become right with God. The oppressed find mercy and help. The oppressors can stop their oppression, and find grace. Those who are weak can be strong in God. The strong can admit their weakness apart from God, and find true strength. But we have to come to God on his terms rather than ours. We humble ourselves. We admit our weakness. We turn from our sin. And we turn to God for his strength, his wealth, and his wholeness.
Dallas Willard, in his book The Divine Conspiracy, tells about the military fighter pilot who was performing high-speed maneuvers. The pilot thrust the controls for a steep upward climb, only to crash into the ground. Somehow the pilot was unaware that the plane had been flying upside down. It’s a modern-day parable: going at breakneck speed, we don’t even realize that we are living upside down. We’re crashing, and can’t seem to figure out why. After all, we are not sure if there is even such a thing as right-side-up. Don’t all roads lead to the same place? As long as you believe in God and practice some form of religion, don’t we all get to heaven eventually? Can’t I love God and still live any way I want? The answer is no. We can’t live outside of God’s will and expect God’s blessing. We’ll be flying upside down and eventually crash. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus turns us right-side-up and enables us to overcome this world if we are willing to let him have control of our life. There is hope, and Mary sang of this hope because yes, she did know!
Mary’s song is also a song of faith. Faith grows out of worship, and Mary’s entire song is worship. Worship takes the attention off us and focuses it on God. Worship is the environment that is perfect for strengthening and deepening faith because faith keeps its vision focused on the word and promises of God and not on the surrounding circumstances. According to Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is believing that because God has declared something, it is already an accomplished fact even if the tangible and visible evidence is not immediately apparent to our senses. Mary sang of God’s salvation, even though nothing around her changed. Mary was still a pregnant young girl from Nazareth. The Romans and the Jewish king, Herod, still ruled with an iron fist, the rich still had their goods and the poor continued to struggle. But, Mary sang because she saw a vision of the changed world God was bringing into being through her son…a world where all wrongs will be righted, where every injustice will be corrected, where the oppressed and downtrodden will be lifted up and those who have elevated and exalted themselves will be humbled.
Yes, Mary did know, and because she knew, she could say, “I am the Lord’s servant.” Here’s what we need to know: This same Jesus seeks to continue becoming flesh, to continue being expressed through willing men and women, and to dwell among us. You and I were each specially made to be a dwelling place for God. You and I are the sacred vessels through which He will make Himself known in our homes, our families, our schools and our communities. This building is not the place. The Temple in Jerusalem is not the place. You and I are the place.
This Advent season, Jesus comes to us, the least likely individuals in the least likely of places and He says to you and me: “You who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!” He promises the outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon us so that Christ might be formed within us. God forces Himself on no one. He takes the initiative and He makes the invitation. Because Mary did know, you and I are here this morning and have a living hope, a steadfast faith, and the experience of God’s eternal and life-transforming love. This hurting and broken world doesn’t need to know if Mary knew. It needs to know if we do.
