Video Transition: Mary did you know? This was sung by Jordan Smith the winner of the voice back in season 9 in 2015 – He sang it even after Adam LeVine tried talking him out of doing it!
Introduction:
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 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 (this is the big question in this song!)
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!
Thoughts: These are Amazing lyrics! But the big question is, “Did Mary know who Jesus really was and what He would do?” that question will make you wonder? Right? But the truth is after looking into Mary’s response to God in Scripture and long before Lowry and Green put that song together, Mary sang her own song about her little boy “Jesus”, and the words she sang reveal that Mary did know! We will look at her song in a moment and I will make my case that I believe she did know! But let’s be reminded of our new series for Christmas Season!
We have entered into our Christmas Series “Wonder!”
Series: Wonder 2023
Thesis: We need to get our wonder back for God, for Jesus and for Christmas! Many believe we are living in the last days and therefore we should look more to Jesus. We need to look at Him with Wonder! Wonder is defined as having a heart filled with amazement and with praise for that which amazes you. We should seek out the Lord this Christmas season so we can step back and say, “Wow look what God has done!” we should put Jesus front and center so we can get our “wonder for Him back!”
Jesus wants to woo us this Christmas Season!
Scripture for our series:
Luke 5:26: “Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Definition of Wonder: (noun) a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. (verb) desire or to be curious to know something.
Sermon 2: Wonder of Mary
Thesis: Mary’s song is a song of praise and awe for God. Mary wondered at God’s choice of using her to birth the Savior of the World. But when she has her “Aha moment of amazement at God’s choice of Her” She sang a song to Him. So, we have the “Magnificat song of Mary” in Luke 1 which is still revealing the heart and soul of Mary after being chosen to birth the Messiah of the world.
Scripture Opening: Luke 1:39-45
Mary receives the visitation from Gabriel Luke 1:26-38
Key verse: Luke 1:29: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
Luke 1:30 “Do not be afraid…”
Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel. “since I am a virgin.”
Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Thene the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth (This is what happened to give Mary the “Aha wonder moment!”)
Luke 1: 39-45
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
Mary has one of those “Aha moments of wonder” She is amazed in what God was doing through her. Elizebeth tells Mary she is “blessed because she believes”! Did you catch that phrase? Mary is not to feel burdened with this pregnancy but feel blessed!
I hope when you hear and read this song of Mary and that it makes you Wonder at this Christmas season? To think about God and what He does with nobodies? How he does the miraculous!
I pray it makes you wonder at His choice to choose Mary to birth Jesus – this song reveals her heart – pure and in devotion to God – Mary loved God – believed in God –Yes, she was chosen from everyone else in the world to birth “The Word of God in the flesh?” “Jesus.”
Introduction:
Songs were used throughout history to remember and recall important events. Songs have the power to help us remember and to convey a message others will hear and recall. Israel put many important events and prayers into songs so they could pass on the testimony of God and His majesty. Mary’s song became one the early church sang over and over!
Mary lived in a time when people were expecting the Messiah to come. I spoke about this last week introducing our series on Wonder. The Scriptures had promised the coming of the Messiah, and rumors were rampant that He was coming at any time in accordance with OT prophecy.
Question: Did last week’s message on the Wonder of the prophecies and promise cause wonder to stir in your heart and mind?
Back to the Big question asked in our song and video today: Did Mary Know?
I do believe Mary knew because in our scenario today she sings this song to the Lord after the encounter She has with Elizabeth – her story is another miracle baby story! Maybe this is why Mary decided to go visit Elizabeth - to talk to her about her unexpected pregnancy by the Holy Spirit and get counsel and encouragement about her miraculous pregnancy. We have in Luke 1 the story of two miracle births! And the two women who were recipients of miracle births praising the Lord of Wonder.
In Scripture after hearing the news from the angel - it says “Mary was troubled” why was she troubled over the news from Gabriel of her pregnancy – my first thought is the reaction of others? We know she was afraid because the angel told her not to fear. But the angel reveals that Elizabeth is also having a miracle baby in her old age. So off she runs to see Elizabeth for comfort and counsel. Mary arrives troubled – maybe not sure of all this – possibly concerned over what others are thinking and saying about her – but after hearing Elizabeth’s response to her she sings this song.
Elizabeth’s greeting upon her arrival and her prophetic words of praise about her pregnancy lift Mary’s spirit. If you recall Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit uses Elizabeth to encourage Mary’s faith and to calm, her fears. She has at this moment a wave of wonder and amazement to God – please don’t miss this moment in the life of Mary! Because of Elizabeths words and reaction to Mary’s pregnancy - Mary went out and sang this song from her heart to the Lord in praise and awe:
If you really pay attention to Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-56 you will discover it is filled with the wonder and amazement she has for God. Listen to it as it resonated out of her heart! She is expressing praise and gratitude to God for being chosen to birth the Messiah through her body.
Play video song “Magnificat.”
Let’s also read the song from Luke 1:46-56 and pay attention to the words – by the way this song has been put into music and was sung by the early church especially at Christmas time along with Zechariahs song in Luke 1:67-80:
Scripture: Mary’s Song Luke 1:46-56
46And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Could you take a moment and wonder with me?
Mary gets the news from Gabriel of her miracle birth. She is troubled afraid but willing to believe and accept the mission from God. But she still after the angel leaves rushes to see Elizabeth and stays with her for 3 months!
Think and ponder with me what it must have been like to hold Jesus in your arms and recall the angel Gabriel’s message to her? Ponder that for a moment? Can you wonder with me over Mary holding Jesus in her arms and recalling Elizabeth’s words to her? Can you think of what happened to Joseph as he was about to divorce Mary and Gabriel appears to Him to confirm the truth of this birth? Jospeh believes and takes Mary’s word that it is a miracle birth by the Holy Spirit! How about when the shepherds’ show up in the Manger and tell them their story the night Jesus was born – about singing angels from heaven – think of Jospeh and Mary and what was racing through their hearts and minds when Jesus was born. Ponder and wonder with me – what they thought when the wise men showed up bearing gifts 2 years later after a long journey to find the King of the Jews? Following a star in the sky! Does any of this make you wonder? Be in awe of God? Does any of it amaze you? Does it cause you to take a step back and say “Wow!” The story of Jesus birth is filled with wonder! It is filled with awe if you can see it – do you see it?
Let’s take a moment to notice three things from Mary’s song of praise to God for being chosen.
I. Mary wonders at God choosing her to give birth to the Messiah!
a. She was poor – she calls herself a lowly servant – obviously she is very humble and shy – in essence she knows that she is a nobody! She most likely thought, “Why me God - I am a nobody!”
i. But this has always been the way God works – God loves to wow us – to make us wonder at Him and His ways - if you read the Bible – God takes nobodies dedicated to Him and makes them somebodies!
1. Hear this wonderful truth about God – He takes nobodies with a right heart on the inside and makes them into some-bodies.
a. Can you clap over this truth and wonder?
i. Let me say this wonderful statement again: “God takes nobodies with a right heart and turns them into somebodies!”
b. Have you seen that in Scripture? I have!
i. People Like Abraham
ii. People Like Joseph
iii. People Like Daniel
iv. People like David
v. People like Mary
1. Does that amaze you – seriously does this really amaze you!
2. Pause for a moment – ponder this thought!
b. Mary in her song wonders at how God passed up the somebodies of the era to pick a nobody like her to give birth to Jesus – the Messiah – the baby born of the Holy Spirit. Wow! Can you imagine her heart bursting with this revelation from Heaven and really, she realizes how blessed she is! (At first she was troubled - now she is filled with wonder and awe).
i. God – the great “I Am” – the Creator of the world has a plan to redeem mankind with a baby birthed from Heaven to earth – it’s Heavens perfect Lamb being born for a great sacrifice!
1. Are you amazed yet? Filled with Wonder?
ii. Mary is in wonder as to how God makes these kind of choices - He passes over Kings, Queens, Priests, Holy men, Leaders, and Rulers those who seem to be more successful, in the positions of power and success but God see’s her. Are you Wondering yet? God “The Great I Am” chooses a 15-year-old teenager to birth the Son of God – this should make you wonder – it blows my mind – does it blow your mind?
1. A teenager – a nobody from Nazareth - a poor farmer girl?
a. God sees her from all the women in the world and says, “Gabriel go tell her she is the One!”
2. Do you see the wonder of God – His plans of Redemption and His ability to see the heart of all people – God sees = He knows – He chooses – He makes nobodies – somebodies – He will do the same with you - if - you heart is in the right place. Did you hear that?
a. Do you want to be chosen for a mission from God?
i. Point to people in the audience do you want to be chosen by God for One of divine missions?
b. Before you say yes – please know this – there will be hardship, trials that go along with being used by God.
i. Sorry to pop the bubble of reality!
1. Yes, when God calls you – you will have to sacrifice – do things His way and it will cost you!
ii. Mary had to deal with the reaction of others who did not believe her story– the accusing remarks and whispers behind her back – and she had endured the demeaning looks and comments.
iii. Mary had to take a grueling journey on a donkey to a faraway place while pregnant to fulfill Scripture.
1. She had to have her baby in a stable – in a manger!
a. No hotel – no home!
iv. Mary had to endure watching her son Jesus be crucified, mocked, beaten and tortured – does this now make you wonder if you want to be used by God for the Kingdom?
1. Does it make you wonder?
iii. But Mary was all in with God and His plan because she had a fully devoted heart to God – did you hear that? She had a fully devoted heart for God 100% in for God and His plan!
1. She was wrapped up in God and His will – His plan was her plan - WHY because – her heart was wrapped up in God!
a. You see God cares about what’s on the inside – what’s in the heart and soul – rather than what’s on the outside!
i. He does not care what you look like – reference survey - He cares what’s on the inside in your heart and your soul – what’s in there – can you answer that question today – Is there wonder for God? Wonder and desire to be used by God? Wonder at the awesomeness of God! A love for God?
ii. Are you with me? Are you in wonder of God?
1. If you are with me, please say “I Wonder!”
b. Her heart blazed for God – you see this just by reading this song a few times – you will sense it if you really read it and mediate on it. I really pray you experience this awe she had for God.
2. Mary’s life would have been engulfed in the mundane tasks of life – getting water from the well, grinding grain to make flour for baking and cooking, but she did these tasks and grew spiritually as she did them.
a. These mundane – things in her daily life drove her deep into God and His Word and God chose her to do something miraculous – He will do the same with you if your heart is right with Him.
i. The truth is being faithful in the mundane task of life prepares your heart to be used by God in a wonderful way!
b. The truth is if you become fully devoted to God in the daily tasks of life – immersed in Him – then God I believe will decide to use you in a big way - He wants to see where your heart and soul is.
c. She became devoted to God in private, in solitude - out of the limelight first and this is why God picked her!
i. Think of others who God trained this way to use them:
1. Moses
2. Samuel
3. Elijah
4. Elisha
5. David
6. John the Baptist
a. Are you in wonder at the choices God makes?
3. Swindoll states, “Solitude has nurturing qualities all it’s own. Anyone who must have superficial sounds to survive lacks depth. If you can’t stand to be alone with yourself, you have deep, unresolved conflicts in your inner life. Solitude has a way of helping us address those issues.” (Page 9, David).
a. Swindoll also adds, “Men and women of God, servant leaders in the making, are first unknown, unseen, unappreciated, and un-applauded. In the relentless demands of obscurity, character is built. Strange as that may seem, those who first accept the silence of obscurity are best qualified to handle the applause of popularity.” (Page 10, David).
b. It’s important to realize that to be fully devoted to God in your heart means He is part of your private life – this is what thrusts nobodies into somebodies.
iv. Mary encountered God in the mundane tasks of life and God used those opportunities to grow her spiritually enough to entrust her with the precious gift of Jesus – the Messiah – the Son of God.
c. Mary did not serve God to be seen by men or others – she did it out of a deep connection with God – she just loved God and desired to serve Him. God rewarded her with a special mission and gift – she was blessed and is called blessed today by millions.
i. Application: God looks for individuals who are fully devoted to Him and then He turns them into somebody!
1. Do you want to be a somebody – then ask God to use you and mold you! Maybe you need to ask God to help you be filled with the wonder of Jesus and His story!
2. That is how God does it time and time again – and God is looking to use you too to be a part of His mission but the question is your heart!
a. You know - don’t you?
b. Maybe you need to - Get back the Wonder and awe for God you once had!
T.S. – Do you wonder at the choices God makes and the people He chooses – seriously – but He knows their hearts – you don’t, and God needs to be praised for the mighty things He does through the nobodies of history. We need to be in awe of God as He turns nobodies into somebodies.
II. Mary also wonders in the song at the mighty things God has done for her, for Israel and for the Jewish people.
a. Mary recalls God’s faithfulness to her and her people over the many years. Her reflection on them being delivered out of Egypt by God’s mighty hands shows Mary knew the Law – the OT – The prophets – The Psalms - she recalls the Mighty and Wonderful things God has done for her people – time and time again.
i. Question: Do you remember what God has done for you – for your family? People sadly have short term memories!
ii. She praises Him for these things – she does not forget what God has done but highlights them in this song – which becomes famous by the way – still sung and recited at Christmas time all over the world – conveying the message of how we cannot forget what God has done for us. We need to recall his death – like we did at communion today but also His birth!
1. Mary knows from history and experience that God is mighty – He can do the impossible – He can do exactly what He said He was going to do with Mary!
a. Birth the Savior of the World! In Essence change the world by raising Jesus right!
iii. Mary’s heart as a teen is tuned into God – into what He has done for her people and for her!
1. She is a teen – did you catch that teen?
a. Mary as a teen was in love with God and wrapped up in God! You are never to young to be used by God – Mary was a teen – or to old Elizabeth was past child bearing age and God used her.
2. In her song Mary quotes Psalm 103:7 “He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel” - in her song: Her statement reveals that God grants mercy to those who honor Him.
a. Do you honor God with your life and your heart? As a teen? As an older saint?
3. Do you have a holy reverence and awe for God – we have talked about having a holy reverential fear of God this year – it was one of the AHA things God revealed to me on my Sabbatical!
4. Here in Scripture, we have it again “FEAR God and He will make you somebody!” You have believe this and be willing to be used by God.
iv. Honoring God with cultivating a holy reverential fear and awe of Him is essential in the world we live in today!
1. John Bevere states:
a. To fear is to hallow Him. Hallow is defined as “to respect greatly.”
b. To fear God is to esteem, respect, honor, venerate, and adore Him above everything else.
c. When we fear God, we take on His heart. We love what He loves, and we hate what He hates…What is important to Him becomes important to us. What is not so important to Him becomes not so important to us.
2. Hebrews 12:28-29: Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
3. Psalm 34:11: “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
a. We need to fear God – learn how to fear God -honor God – maybe we can do this by remembering His mighty acts in our lives – and what He has done throughout the history of this world!
b. Reference communion we celebrated today!
b. But what I see happening in society is not a wonder or awe for God but the forgetting about God and honoring Him.
i. This recent survey of Church attendance confirmed this to me – siting the worst states for weekly church attendance in the country:
1. Vermont 17% (some say 21%)
2. New Hampshire 20% (some say 21%)
3. Maine 21%
4. Wisconsin 26%
5. Other states running between 27% - 34%
a. Washington
b. Oregon
c. Colorado
d. Connecticut
e. Maryland
f. Delaware
g. Hawaii
h. New York
i. Michigan
j. Montana
k. Nevada
l. California
m. Alaska
i. Do these surveys make you wonder at what happened to the wonder of the Lord in these states?
ii. From two surveys – One on Facebook seen 12/1/2023 and https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/12yv3c0/attendance_at_religious_services_in_united_states/
T.S. – Mary wondered about How majestic God is and ponders all the mighty things He has done for Mary, for the Israelites and the Jewish people. But she also in her song wonders at how great God’s mercy and grace is for her and her people.
III. Mary wonders at His mercy – God’s mercy and grace is a wonder to Mary.
a. A Question to ponder is “Does God’s mercy and grace make you wonder?”
i. Does God’s mercy and grace cause you to wonder – to stand back and say “Wow!”
1. Look at How God shows mercy and grace – look at how God gives second and third chances to people.
2. Wow, look at how God forgives!
b. Charles Swindoll has this to say about this gift called grace that came from Jesus and God:
i. To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn’t deserve it and can never earn it. Receiving God’s acceptance by grace always stands in sharp contrast to earning it on the basis of works. Every time the thought of grace appears, there is the idea of its being undeserved. In no way is the recipient getting what he or she deserves. Favor is being extended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver (9 Grace Awakening).
ii. He also notes: But when “grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ,” a long-awaited revolution of the heart began to set religious captives free. Fear-full bondage motivated by guilt was replaced with a fresh motivation to follow Him in truth simply out of deep devotion and delight. Rather than focusing on the accomplishments of the flesh, He spoke of the heart. Instead of demanding that the sinner fulfill a long list of requirements, he emphasized faith, if only the size of a mustard seed. The change spelled freedom, as the Lord himself taught, “…you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Rigid, barren religion was, at last, replaced by a grace-orientated, relationship-liberating grace. His followers loved it. His enemies hated it… and Him. Without a doubt, the earliest grace killers were the Pharisees (10).
iii. Grace came as a result of Jesus. Once again Grace is defined as receiving a gift that we do not deserve - that gift is salvation - right standing in the presence of God - even though our sinful lives do not deserve that position of honor.
c. Does God’s grace make you wonder?
Application:
God used someone like Mary (a nobody with the right heart to become a somebody for the Kingdom of Heaven) and her story is to tell you He wants to use you too – do you wonder at how God can use you for the kingdom – He wants to use you?
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: Mary had a holy wonder and awe for God even in her early teens years and God saw her heart and picked her to birth Jesus the Messiah!
Why do they need to know this?
Answer: Mary being chosen by God tells us God seeks to use those who are humble and in wonder of God – those whose heart is dedicated to God even in the regular routines of life. It’s in these moments that character is developed.
What do they need to do?
Answer: I believe we should seek to get our wonder and awe back for God.
Why do they need to do this?
Answer: When we do this God will open a door to use you like He did Mary and the heroes of the Bible.
