Mary Didn't Know

“Mary Did You Know?” is my all time favorite Christmas song. The song details the wonderful, miraculous life that Jesus had on earth, but then asks the simple question to the one who carried Him, nursed Him, and cared for Him during His time spent on Earth: Did you know?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new;

This child that you delivered will soon deliver you?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would 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’ve kissed the face of God?

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!

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 was Heaven’s perfect Lamb,

And the sleeping Child you’re holding is the great, the Great I AM?

Oh, Mary, Mary, did you know?

The thing about this song that always stops me in my tracks is this: Mary didn’t know.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-28

In this passage of scripture, we read that Mary was told by an angel that she would give birth to the son of God, but Mary did not know what was coming next. Later in the Bible, we learn of the difficulties she faced and the judgement she felt from becoming pregnant while unmarried. Conceiving before marriage, and then being engaged to marry someone who knew nothing (yet) about the baby she was carrying; I can only imagine the fear that Mary felt. In that time, Mary could have been punished harshly for this. Yet, she allowed God to do His will through her, regardless of the pain and suffering she would face.

Furthermore, over three decades later, she watched her child, die on a cross, right in front of her, for all sinners. Jesus is the son of God, but His earthly mother must have felt total devastation as she watched the breath of life leave His body.

Mary had no idea that the sweet baby Jesus she was carrying would save the world, but she trusted that God was in control and He knew what He was doing. All along Mary knew God's plan was to use Jesus to save His people, but she had no idea everything she would go through to get there. During the trouble, pain, fear, harsh circumstances, devastation and sadness, Mary didn’t know the end result. In our lives, in whatever trial we are facing, like Mary, we don't know the ending.

Being only human, I am sure Mary had doubts. After all, things didn’t exactly go easy for Mary...she had a baby surrounded by animals! During their searching for a place to stay the night of Jesus’ birth, Mary had to have been thinking...is this the way it is really supposed to go? And that probably wasn’t the only time she thought that. When she first learned she would become pregnant and had to tell her family she was pregnant before marriage and not to the man she was supposed to marry, she must have thought through those criticisms...is this the way it is really supposed to go? When she watched Jesus be hung on the cross, beaten, whipped, bleeding, broken and ultimately crucified, she had to have been thinking...is this the way it is really supposed to go?

Like Mary may have done, I find myself thinking often...is this the way my life is really supposed to go? When I am holding my child down for another poke at the hospital...is this the way it is really supposed to go? When I catch throw up after strong medications that leave my child weak and sick...is this the way it is really supposed to go? When I hear the words "her cancer has relapsed," for the third time...is this the way it is really supposed to go? When I uproot my family for a second time to travel for the best medical care in the country...is this the way it is really supposed to go? When my 4 year old baby girl looks at me and asks why she can't go to pre-school with her friends...is this really the way its supposed to go?

I am not sure that the song would be as much of a hit as the famous “Mary, Did You Know,” but it is quite possible that a version for my life, and yours could exist.

Chelsy, did you know that God is using you in your pain?

Chelsy, did you know that God is helping you to tell a story through your fears?

Chelsy, did you know that God is preparing you to help others going

through the same trials?

Chelsy, did you know that others are being encouraged because

of your faith in your uncertainties?

Chelsy, did you know that your daughter is changing so many lives with her story?

Chelsy, did you know that you are being a witness to those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus, which could ultimately lead them to salvation and eternity in Heaven?

As mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, and friends, we are all called to be like Jesus. Mary is a wonderful example of this. We should all aspire to have faith like Mary. Even if Mary did doubt, she didn't allow her insecurities to impact her relationship with Jesus; she still knew the goodness of God! Mary was curious to know the way God would work her pregnancy into His plan, but she didn't allow that curiosity to keep her questioning.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

I so badly want to have Mary’s unshakable faith, and when life isn’t going the way I plan, I want to trust that God knows what he is doing. The suffering, pain, rejection, disappointments and fear that we are facing could possibly be for something else the Lord has destined to happen.

Mary didn’t know that, in the end, Jesus would die on the cross to save us all from our sins...but God did. You may not know why your spouse left you, why you failed your test, why you lost your job, why a pandemic hit our world, why your parents died suddenly, or why your child is sick, but God knows the bigger picture.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

I aspire to have faith and trust in God just like Mary. I have chosen to surrender to His plan knowing that God is working everything for our good and I hope you will join me. So, come what may: a shattering diagnosis, Covid-19, financial struggles, divorce, death of a loved one, unexpected news, relapse, etc. we can sing loudly this Christmas season, and all throughout the year, “ Mary did you know that your baby boy was Heaven’s perfect Lamb, and the sleeping Child you’re holding is the Great I AM?”

My friend, did you know that God is using you to fulfill His will in this season of your life?