'MARY, DID YOU KNOW?' BY PASTOR GREG ELKAN.

The song _“Mary, did you know?”_ written 1984 by Mark Lowry has somehow become a modern Christmas classic, recorded by hundreds of artists over the years including Kenny Rogers, Pentatonix, Jordan Smith, and Dolly Parton. 

The song is a list of questions directed to the pregnant Virgin Mary, asking her various things about her soon-to-be-born son ranging from if Mary knew that her baby was God Himself to others about his miracles. 

While many consider the lyrics of the song to be theologically deep some persons are quite offended by it; and actually consider it to be sexist! Because the Mary of scripture wasn’t as clueless and ignorant of the nature of her child the way the song portrays her to be. 

Let’s clarify from the outset, though that it’d incorrect to say that Mary didn’t _know_ the nature of the child in her womb. After all, Gabriel explained to her that her child would be called _“the Son of God”_ (Lk 1:30-35), and her _‘Magnificat’_ in Lk 1:47-55 confirms that knowledge as well. 

Having said these, however, it’s still a valid question to ask if Mary knew fully. Because frankly, she didn’t. No one ever does! 

It is one thing to ‘know’ that your baby one day would “rule the nations”, but we’d be stretching it to say Mary _knew_ all the miracles that her child would eventually wrought, or that she knew that the path to the salvation He came to give was through a gruelling crucifixion. Mary only new the ‘highlights’ of her mission, and I dare say, she _only_ knew the rosy highlights of her mission. 

The same is actually true of the average minister today. When we receive a vision for ministry, we typically only see the big highlights. I don’t know of any minister whom God gave a vision at the outset about their coming years of perils, dryness, disappointments, betrayals, etc. No, the visions are typically of souls, miracles, impact, and the reach of the ministry. Which is all good, because every ministry is a journey that must be embarked upon with faith. 

You don’t have to know or see everything to go. Like Abraham you may only have to see the Promised Land even though your children wouldn’t step into it for another 400 years. Like David, you may only have to know you’re the next king even though it’ll come after years of hiding in caves and dodging thrown javelins. And, yes, like Mary, you may only have to know that your baby boy “would one day rule the nations” – even though the events in His life would cause _“a sword (to) pierce through your own soul”_ (Lk 2:34,35).

As a servant of God, you don’t have to know everything; all you need is to know what the will of God is. And like Mary, reply _“be it unto me according to your word.”_

 

AMEN...

PASTOR GREG ELKAN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.