Last week, Alan of Devotional Treasure published “Considering Carols At Advent – No.5 (Repost)” about the modern hymn, Mary Did You Know?.
As I commented on Alan’s post, I often listen to Mary Did You Know? on repeat.
I used to just listen passively when the song was performed at church. That changed when I found the version by Clay Aiken (Follower of Christ). The video uses footage from The Passion of the Christ, Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, The Apocalypse, and Nativity Story, and comes alive in a way I had never imagined. CLICK HERE to watch on YouTube
As a mom, I cannot imagine being asked the questions that are posed to Mary. I ask you to read through the lyrics slowly, considering the impact of each stanza
MARY DID YOU KNOW
Mark Lowery – 1985
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
Will calm the 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?
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
Would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you’re holding
Is the great, I Am?
Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?
Now, let us consider the lyrics in relation to Mary’s reaction when she was first visited by the angel Gabriel:
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 1:26-38 NIV
Mary’s story is one of complete surrender and trust. What God asked her to do could have caused Joseph to “quietly divorce her”, but she did it anyway. What God asked her to do could have caused a permanent rift in her family, but she did it anyway. What God asked her to do could have prevented Mary from ever entering the temple again, but she did it anyway. What God asked her to do could have been social suicide, but she did it anyway.
Mary’s single act of obedience brought forth the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. that we first heard about in Isaiah 9:6b NIV
I will be forever grateful for Mary. Without her sacrifice, the world would be a very different place.
This post is part of #ADVEN2025
The participants are:
Bridget A. Thomas – Every Day Is A Gift
Loring Schultz – Word For The Soul
Alan Kearns – Devotional Treasure
Nathan R Dooley – Time For Providence
David Duncan – David’s Daily Dose
Rainer Bantau – The Devotional Guy
Cindi West – God Still Speaks
Barb Hegreberg – My Life in our Father’s World
mylifeinourfathersworld.com 
Barb, I so appreciate this deeper look at Mary and the questions she must have had running through her mind. Yet, she trusted the Lord and was obedient to Him. I also love the reimagining of the video for “Mary Did You Know?.”
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I went back to school a couple of years ago and as a result I did most of my writing for class assignments. It feels good to have resumed more introspective writing in this space.
Thank you for drawing me back into the habit by inviting me to be part of #ADVENT2025..
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What a blessing it is to hear this, Barb. Thank you for sharing that! I’m grateful Advent provided the necessary nudge to return to a more introspective form of writing. Barb, your unique voice adds depth to our #ADVENT2025 conversation. I’m grateful you agreed to join us in this
community blogging project.
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Me too!!
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Thank you for sharing this excellent and very touching reflection/meditation on “Mary Did You Know.” This song has always touched many hearts, including mine, but only mothers can truly understand Mary’s story and her faith. The Clay Aiken version is mindblowing at the least. God bless you today sister 🙏
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I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Have a wonderful week, my friend.
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Good time to remind us of this song… And the obedience of Mary despite the anticipated cost. My favorite line there is “And when you kiss your little baby, You’ve kissed the face of God?” Finally, God came so close…
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That line always makes my mama heart skip a beat!
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