Mary, Did You Know? review
Christian music review #5
Title - "Mary, Did You Know?"
Written by Mark Lowry
Artist - Michael English - the first (1991) and
The song has been sung by many singers :
Michael English - the first (1991)
Mark Lowry - the writer
and many other including but not limited to :
Kenny Rogers And Wynonna Judd, Pentatonix, Anthem Lights, Danny Gokey, Dolly Parton, Mary J. Blige, Cee Lo Green, Clay Aiken
Question : Is it biblical?
Per Wikipedia
"Mary, Did You Know?" is a Christmas song addressing Mary, mother of Jesus, with lyrics written by Mark Lowry in 1985, and music written by Buddy Greene in 1991. It was originally recorded by Christian recording artist Michael English on his self-titled debut solo album in 1991. At the time, English and Lowry were members of the Gaither Vocal Band,
lyrics :
[Verse 1]
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will one day 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
And this child that you 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 kissed your little baby
You've kissed the face of God?
[Bridge]
Oh, Mary, did you know
Ooh, Mary, did you know, ooh
[Chorus]
Ooh, 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
On the surface this song is without question a Christian biblical song. Many would even say it could be called a modern classic . The reality is that there are detractors who feel that this song is unbiblical. They disagree with what they feel is a list of questions that scripture would dismiss as foolish. As can be heard or read ; The song is a list of questions presented to Mary the Mother of Jesus . They are the focus of the song. Critics say they deny the biblical text. Mary to many is almost the 4th part of the Godhead . A position that to me is unbiblical. Mary should be celebrated because she is blessed among all women. A chosen vessel but she is a creation like everyone and everything else. In the beginning was God the trinity, Mary was not present in Genesis 1.1 and she did not hang on the cross to bleed and die for our sins. yes Mary did need to be delivered . Every knee will bow even Mary's and declare Jesus is Lord. Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So the point of the song , with which I agree , is that Mary not being all knowing could lack knowledge of ALL that Jesus Christ would do in life. Line by line we can see that many of the things asked in the song , Mary would know because she was told by angels, most likely by Elizabeth her cousin , shepherds and her taught by her own Jewish religious education. We can be almost completely be sure that Mary would have known most of the :" did you knows" -
The truth is that MOST of “did you knows” would be yes ! !! BECAUSE !!
Mary knew :
A. What Joseph her husband was told :
God told Joseph that Jesus will save His people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
B What Gabriel told Zechariah who would have told Elizabeth’s which was that : John their son was act in spirit of Elijah for the coming messiah.
Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
C. Mary was told directly:
What Gabriel told her- her son Jesus would be the promised eternal king and messiah.
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. .....
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
D. The shepherds who would told Mary and Joseph why they came to see the baby.what the shepherds told her the angels said : that Jesus her son was the messiah which confirmed what she already knew.
Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
E. Jewish teaching would have taught her :
Messiah would be declared the messiah and eternal King.
Psalm 2:4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me,‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
He would perform miracles:
Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
He would be God with us - We know it means he is part of the Trinity but the Jews would not understand this until Jesus full revelation. Most still reject this part of Jesus identity.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Some answers to “did you know” she would not know like verse 1
The song line asking did you know “ He will one day walk on water? - the answer would be NO! The reason is because it was not prophesied. It was a miracle done in response to a particular situation.
And the question “did you know when you kissed your little baby You've kissed the face of God? “ it is Debatable since the messiah to the Jews was not necessary understood to be God. A king yes a physical savoir yes a prophet yes. It was this issue that even his disciples and the majority of Jews had trouble understanding , Most Jews still reject Both Jesus as physical and spiritual savoir and messiah, and definitely as the Son of God. .
However, The majority of questions she would or should have know. If this is true then the question: is the song biblical!? is it denying what is clear in scripture ? No ! it is written as art . It is actually a testimony of all the acts and truths about Jesus. The point of the song is not to debate or dispute Mary’s actual knowledge but to proclaim who Jesus was and is. For example the nativity scenes that millions display are not actual depictions of the birth of Jesus, There was actually wise men but not just 3, animals maybe but which ones exactly? , Angels around most definitely but invisible. if the depiction was exact it would be a photo. The nativity scenes through out the world have a basic theme but thousands of variations are meant to proclaim an event . This is what the song is it is art. It is a way of testifying of the work and person of Jesus.
A second way to think of the song is that it can be viewed as being from the view point of: a child, someone not schooled in the bible, or an interviewer. The song as conducted as an interview would read something like : Mary did you know? If you wait until the end of the song you can almost hear her say Yes! To almost all the questions. That is my answer Yes it is biblical . It is Art and a Testimony of Jesus Christ Messiah, king, savior and on of God. The singer ask wondering “ did you know” The bible gives us the answer YES!!
Link to sources used:
Written by SSligh blog creator/moderator
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