Mary, Did You Know? -By Brother Chuck

Mary, did you know that when you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God? Mary believed and proclaimed that Jesus was God's son. While at that moment she may not have fully understood the extent of His divinity or the purpose of His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, still, she recognized Him as "...the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world" (John 11:27). When the angel Gabriel unexpectedly appeared to the virgin Mary to announce that she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit, he referred to the child as the Son of God (Luke 1:35). This divine revelation would have given Mary the knowledge and understanding that her baby Jesus was no ordinary child. She would have understood that when He was born she would be in the very presence of God incarnate. Mary's response to Gabriel's revelation shows her understanding and faith as she humbly accepts God's plan for her life (Luke 1:38 NIV). Mary herself also proclaimed in her song of praise, known as the Magnificat, that all generations would call her blessed because of the great things God had done for her. So yes, Mary was definitely aware of the divine nature of her child and the significance of her role as the mother of Jesus.

Can you imagine how Mary must have felt when the archangel Gabriel suddenly appeared from heaven to give her this news? She would have experienced a combination of awe, fear, and excitement all at the same time. The presence of a real angel and the news of being chosen to bear the Son of God would be overwhelming. She would be in awe of the angel's presence and the magnitude of the message. She would feel fear as such a responsibility and divine calling would bring a sense of trembling and uncertainty. Yet, in the midst of all these emotions, Mary would have a deep sense of excitement and wonder, knowing that she has been chosen for a unique and significant role in God's plan for humanity. She would need time to process and comprehend the enormity of the situation. She likely sought guidance and strength from the Lord to fulfill His purpose for her life.

Are you familiar with the song, "Mary, Did You Know?" It's where I got my inspiration to write this article. It's a wonderful Christmas song acclaiming Mary as the mother of God. The lyrics were written by Mark Lowry in 1984. "Mary, Did You Know?" has been recorded by many artists. You can listen to it in a YouTube video below. Here are some of the lyrics:

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've kissed the face of God

View the Full Lyrics Here

Mary, did you know that when you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God?

Mary's song of praise, known as the Magnificat, reveals her understanding of the significance of her child's birth and His divine nature. The Magnificat, authored by Mary is her response to the news of her impending pregnancy and it expresses her joy and gratitude to God for choosing her to be the mother of Jesus. The word "Magnificat" comes from the Latin translation of the first word of the song, which means "magnify" or "glorify." Listen to the first verse of Mary's song of praise.

"My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46).

Notice the word "magnifies," thus the title, the Magnificat. Notice also she refers to the soon to be born baby Jesus as "God my Savior". Mary authored the Magnificat after her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant, felt her own baby leap in her womb when Mary came to Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" (Luke 1:41-45 NIV)

Elizabeth recognized the significance of her own pregnancy as "the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41 NIV). Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist who would one day, "Prepare the way of the Lord" (Matthew 3:3). It was following Mary's get-together with Elizabeth that Mary authored the Magnificat. This happened when Mary was still in the early stages of her pregnancy. If you'd like, you can read the Magnificat in full in Luke 1:46-55.

Mary, did you know?

How could she not know? In addition to everything you read above, the events were also prophesied in Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, and Micah 5:2. These passages all speak of the coming of a Messiah. In Isaiah 7:14, it is prophesied that a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, who will be called Immanuel, meaning "God with us." In Isaiah 9:6, it is foretold that a child will be born, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. In Micah 5:2, it is prophesied that a ruler will come forth from Bethlehem, who will redeem his people. These passages all point to the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of these prophecies and the ultimate Redeemer of Israel and all people from their sins. As a devout Jewish woman, Mary would have been familiar with the prophecies and teachings of the Old Testament, including these specific passages that foretold the birth of the Messiah. Mary's awareness of these prophecies would have further affirmed her faith and understanding of Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises.

Calvary 33 Years Later

All four Gospels bear testimony that Jesus was crucified outside of the city gates of Jerusalem at a place called Golgotha, also known as Calvary. Jesus was humiliated and mistreated and forced to carry his own cross through the crowded streets of angry spectators, leading to the execution site. Jesus of Nazareth was crucified at "a place called Golgotha (which means "the place of the skull" (Matthew 27:33 NIV).

Now, come along with me, as we fast-forward to the moment of Jesus' death on the cross.

"Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last" (Luke 23:46 NIV).

Can you place yourself in Mary's shoes for this agonizing heart-wrenching moment in her life? Your son Jesus has just died. You look around and you see the Roman soldiers standing there. You see some of Jesus' disciples including John, and a few other women were standing nearby. You see your sister standing there too. And there's Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene also standing there. You think to yourself, "My son has died." You begin to cry. Your heart is broken. You look around once more and you see the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. "Oh look, there's Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples."

Mary's Epilogue

"As Jesus' mother, my heart breaks for Him today. It is heavy and burdened with grief and sorrow as I stood here and watched my beloved son die on the cross. I still remember the day when the angel Gabriel appeared to me. He announced that I would be conceived by the Holy Spirit and give birth to a son and I was to call him Jesus. He declared that Jesus would be called the Son of God and He would become the Savior of the world. I remember the joy and wonder I felt as I witnessed my son's miraculous birth and watched him grow up to become a wise and compassionate man.

Conclusion

In the final analysis, Mary witnessed the miraculous birth of her son Jesus, the fulfillment of God's promise to her. She saw Jesus grow up to become a wise and compassionate man. She watched Him grow in wisdom and stature. She witnessed Him performing miracles and she heard Him teach with authority. Mary knew she couldn't stop the suffering and death of her son. She endured the wretched pain of watching her son suffer and die on the cross, but she also witnessed the incredible joy of His resurrection. Through it all, Mary's faith remained unshakable. She knew with certainty that Jesus truly was the long-awaited Messiah, the King of kings. She saw the hope that Jesus brought to the whole world, His offering of salvation and eternal life for whoever believes in Him. Jesus showed us a radical way of life. He taught us to love and serve others selflessly. Mary's story is a reminder of God's faithfulness and the power of His love. It should inspire us all to trust in Him and His plans for our lives. Mary's message would be one of hope, faith, and the transformative power of Jesus' love.

Watch the video, "Mary, Did You Know?"

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