How many great music composers can you name? And who’s the greatest of them? Johann Sabastian Bach? Igor Stravinsky? Ludwig Ban Beethoven? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? Frederic Chopin? Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky? Richard Wagner? Joseph Haydn? Johannes Brahms? Robert Schumann? Richard Strauss? How about George Frederic Handel, the composer of the Messiah? These are all great composers, but how about Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene?  

Although many of the previously named composers lived centuries ago, two men, Mark Lowry the singer and comedian, along with Buddy Greene, the singer but more famously known for his harmonica, wrote one of the most impactful modern Christmas songs. Those men, blessed by God, gave us one of the most insightful Christmas songs of the modern era. The song questions if Mary understood how the newborn in her arms, Jesus, would change the world – forever.

According to Wikipedia.org, Lowry wrote the lyrics to Mary Did You Know in 1984, but it wasn’t until he turned the poem over to Buddy Greene in 1991 that the poem sprouted wings and became a Christmas song that today stands firmly with the Christmas classics. Unfortunately for the duo, their song arrived at a time when Christian Christmas music began fading in popularity from the secular music world. But that hasn’t slowed the impact of the song in the Christians’ view of Christmas.

What’s in a mother’s mind as she carries her baby in the womb? What’s in a mother’s mind after she’s given birth to the newborn? Many of you, as mothers reading this, know the answer to those questions. Do you wonder what the tiny baby in your arms will grow up to become? Do you wonder if the baby will someday change the world? Do you marvel at the possibilities? A teacher? A missionary? A doctor? A nurse? An author? President of the United States? As bad news from around the world travels across the airwaves to your eyes and ears, do you ponder the problems the child will face? Do you fear for your child?

You must have difficulty visualizing the baby as an adult, that tiny newborn asleep in your arms, so innocent, so precious. You’ve only just met the child, yet you’d give your life in an instant if needed. You’d defend your baby with no fear for yourself. 

You watch each breath closely as the belly rises and falls. With the baby’s tiny fingers wrapped around your one finger, you marvel at God's little creation. Yet, over time, you’ll watch your child grow from a newborn to an infant; from an infant to a toddler; from a toddler to preschool; and from preschool to school age, from school age to teenager, and then from teenager to adulthood. But your newborn, at whatever age, will always be your child, and you'll always remain the mother.  

Did Mary find herself in a whirlwind of the unexpected? There’s no owner’s manual that comes with a newborn, let alone Mary held the Son of the Most High God. Wrap your mind around that as you ponder Mary holding her newborn. How does one raise the Son of God? Think of the possible mistakes. Does she spank his little behind if he keeps shuffling toward an open fire? Should she slap His tiny hand if He keeps reaching for the razor-sharp knife? Explain those situations to God! You reason it’s better He feels a little pain on His behind or hand than to injure Himself. Does God approve? 

What will this child grow up to become? Could Mary comprehend? Doubtful. She likely didn’t know He would preach and teach. Could she dream He would do miracles? Unlikely, miracles were for Old Testament prophets like Elijah and Elisha. And die? Really? Die? On a cross? How could she know?

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?

When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

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?

The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

-Mark Lowry, Buddy Greene

Love you!!!

Merry Christmas,

Kenny