Did She Really, Though? The Ultimate Guide to the Popular Song
The lyrics to "Mary Did You Know" are a popular Christmas song that imagines what Mary, the mother of Jesus, might have known or wondered about her son's future. The song is not based on any specific biblical passage, but rather on various events and teachings from the Gospels, and has been hotly contested since its inception. Let's look at each line and see what we can find out.
- Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
There is no evidence that Mary knew this before it happened. The only Gospel that records Jesus walking on water is Matthew, and it does not mention Mary being present or informed of this miracle (Mt 14:22-33).
- Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Mary probably had some idea that her son was the Messiah, the anointed one who would save Israel from their enemies. The angel Gabriel told her that he would be called the Son of the Most High and that he would reign over the house of Jacob forever (Lk 1:32-33). However, she may not have fully understood the spiritual and universal scope of his salvation, which would extend to all people, not just the Jews. She may also not have realized that his salvation would involve his death and resurrection, which he predicted several times to his disciples (Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34).
- Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you.
This line is more poetic than factual, as it plays on the word "deliver" in two different senses. Mary was certainly aware that her son was a special gift from God, as she sang in her Magnificat: "He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name" (Lk 1:49). She also recognized that he was the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel, as she said to Elizabeth: "He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever" (Lk 1:54-55). However, she may not have known that her son would also deliver her and all people from sin and death, by his grace and sacrifice. This is the core of the Christian faith, which was revealed after his resurrection and ascension, and proclaimed by the apostles and the Church.
- Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?
Mary did not know this before it happened, as there is no record of Jesus healing the blind before his public ministry. The Gospels report several instances of Jesus restoring sight to the blind, such as the man born blind in John 9, the two blind men in Matthew 9:27-31, and Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52. None of these stories mention Mary being present or aware of these miracles.
- Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with His hand?
Mary did not know this before it happened, as there is no record of Jesus calming a storm before his public ministry. The Gospels report one instance of Jesus calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee, when he rebuked the wind and the waves and said, "Peace! Be still!" (Mk 4:39). This miracle amazed his disciples, who said, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mk 4:41). Mary was not present or informed of this miracle.
- Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
This line is ambiguous, as it could refer to different places or events. One possible interpretation is that it refers to Jesus’ pre-incarnate nature as a distinct person, of one being with the Father (John 1:1,14). Others mistakenly attribute it to future acts and circumstances as recorded in the Gospels, such as Jesus' ascension to heaven, when he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight (Acts 1:9). Another possible interpretation is that it refers to Jesus' transfiguration, when he was transformed before Peter, James, and John, and his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light (Mt 17:2). In both cases, angels appeared and spoke to the disciples (Acts 1:10-11; Mt 17:5). Mary was not present or informed of either of these events.
- And when you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God.
This line is poetic and theological, rather than historical. It expresses the belief that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, the Son of God and the Son of Man, the Word made flesh and the image of the invisible God (Jn 1:14; Col 1:15). Mary probably had some sense of this mystery, as the angel Gabriel told her that her son would be called the Son of the Most High and that he would be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:32, 35). However, she may not have fully grasped the implications of this doctrine, as she pondered these things in her heart (Lk 2:19, 51).
- Mary, did you know that the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again?
Mary did not know this before it happened, as there is no record of Jesus performing these miracles before his public ministry. The Gospels report several instances of Jesus healing the blind, the deaf, and the dead, such as the widow's son at Nain (Lk 7:11-17), the daughter of Jairus (Mk 5:21-43), Lazarus (Jn 11:1-44), and many others. None of these stories mention Mary being present or aware of these miracles.
- The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the Lamb?
Mary did not know this before it happened, as there is no record of Jesus healing the lame and the mute before his public ministry. The Gospels report several instances of Jesus healing the lame and the mute, such as the paralytic lowered through the roof (Mk 2:1-12), the man with a withered hand (Mk 3:1-6), the man who was deaf and had a speech impediment (Mk 7:31-37), and many others. None of these stories mention Mary being present or aware of these miracles. The praises of the Lamb refer to the worship of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29). Mary may have heard this title from John the Baptist, who proclaimed it when he saw Jesus (Jn 1:36), but she may not have fully understood its meaning until after the Resurrection and the Pentecost.
- Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary probably had some idea that her son was the Lord of all creation, as the angel Gabriel told her that he would be called the Son of the Most High and that his kingdom would have no end (Lk 1:32-33). She also recognized that he was the fulfillment of the prophecies about the Messiah, who would be the descendant of David and the ruler of Israel (Lk 1:54-55; 2:11). However, she may not have fully grasped the extent of his lordship over all creation, which was revealed by his miracles, his teachings, and his Resurrection.
- Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Mary probably had some idea that her son would one day rule the nations, as the angel Gabriel told her that he would be called the Son of the Most High and that his kingdom would have no end (Lk 1:32-33). She also recognized that he was the fulfillment of the prophecies about the Messiah, who would be the descendant of David and the ruler of Israel (Lk 1:54-55; 2:11). However, she may not have fully understood the nature and scope of his rule, which would not be a worldly or political one, but a spiritual and universal one. Jesus himself said that his kingdom was not of this world (Jn 18:36), and that he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18).
- Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
Mary may have known that her son was heaven's perfect Lamb, as the angel Gabriel told her that he would be called holy, the Son of God (Lk 1:35). She also heard this title from John the Baptist, who proclaimed it when he saw Jesus (Jn 1:36). However, she may not have fully realized the significance of this title, which implied that her son would be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. Jesus himself predicted his passion and death several times to his disciples (Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34), but they did not understand him (Mk 9:32; Lk 18:34). Mary witnessed his crucifixion and burial (Jn 19:25-27, 38-42), but she may not have understood the meaning of his death until after his Resurrection and the Pentecost.
- This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM?
Mary may have known that her sleeping child was the great I AM, as the angel Gabriel told her that he would be called the Son of God (Lk 1:35). She also recognized that he was the fulfillment of the prophecies about the Messiah, who would be called Immanuel, which means God with us (Mt 1:23; Is 7:14). However, she may not have fully comprehended the identity of her son with the great I AM, the name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Ex 3:14). Jesus himself claimed this name several times, such as when he said, \"Before Abraham was, I AM\" (Jn 8:58), or \"I AM the way, and the truth, and the life\" (Jn 14:6), or \"I AM the resurrection and the life\" (Jn 11:25). These claims provoked the hostility of the Jewish authorities, who accused him of blasphemy and sought to kill him (Jn 5:18; 8:59; 10:31-33). Mary may not have fully grasped the divinity of her son until after his Resurrection and the Pentecost.
Merry Christmas from the Calvinist Chronicle… and if you don’t celebrate Christmas, then grab a Bible and read some of those scripture references.
Mary may or may not have known, but we don’t have that excuse. God came down to Earth so that regular people could come near, to know Him, to glorify Him, and to proclaim His coming to the rest of the world.
The Christ was born, died to pay for our transgressions, and rose again, promising that we would someday rise again, too.
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