Mary Freakin' Knew

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?

                                  Mary Did You Know?

So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

                                        Luke 2:17-20

It must be close to twenty years ago that a singer in the congregation I was serving at the time asked what I thought of the Christmas piece, Mary Did You Know? She was enthusiastic about it, I'd never heard it.  At that time Mary Did You Know? had been around for a decade and become very popular in evangelical circles. As the name suggests, the verses wonder aloud whether Mary, the mother of Jesus, was aware that the child to whom she would give birth was the Messiah. 

I listened to it and decided it was kinda corny, complete with crescendo, as well as being catchy. Play it a couple of times and it becomes an ear-worm. The emphasis is miracles and healing and salvation rather than Jesus as the one who challenges social norms and brings about justice. 

Mary Did You Know? is now thirty years old and the writer of the lyrics has shared his thoughts about the song. Mark Lowry was in his early thirties when conversations with his mother about Mary's comprehension of her role and Jesus' future nudged him toward the song. He eventually worked with songwriter Buddy Greene to create a piece which has been recorded by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers and many more. 

There has been a fair share of criticism through the years for the approach, which I get. I'll admit though that I have wondered through the years not only what Mary understood, but what Jesus comprehended about his earthly life and heavenly purpose, if I can put it in such reductionist terms. What was Mary pondering in her heart? And the gospels do suggest that at times Jesus was so immersed in his Jewish culture that he needed nudges to see and hear differently, just as he invited others to do. 

In an article in Religion News Service Mark Lowry concedes he isn't a trained theologian: 

Lowry is pretty good-natured about the criticism of the song. He’s quick to admit it has shortcomings — which he thinks are more evident to his fellow Christians who are more familiar with theology than the average person who hears the song. The last thing he wanted to do was to insult Mary or anger his fellow believers. “I never meant for it to start a war or irritate people,” he said. “I definitely didn’t want that.”

There is a parody of the song called Yes, I Freakin' Knew! which is clever, and makes its own point, so here is the link. I've also included the version of the original by the Pentatonix which isn't as...ahem... melodramatic as some. Hey, if Mary Did You Know? is devotional for some and sparks debate for others, along with being catchy, why not? 

https://youtu.be/tqLz8nGdOn4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE