What DID Mary Know?

There’s a popular Christmas song that asks the question, “Mary, did you know…?” 

What DID Mary know BEFORE Jesus was born?

1. Mary knew she was a Jew, born of the tribe of Judah  (Matt 1). She knew that her name was the same as that of Moses and Aaron’s sister, Miriam (Exo 15:20).
2. Mary knew that she was a virgin (Luke 1:27)
3. Mary knew Joseph was not the father of the child she was carrying.  And that by Law he had every right to “put her away” (divorce, or end the betrothal). (Matt 1:19)
4. We can assume that Mary knew Joseph loved her because he chose to divorce her privately (Matt 1:29).  She may have known that an angel appeared to Joseph and told him to take her as his wife for the child she was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Mat 1:20-21).
5. Mary knew that Joseph was also of the tribe of Judah (Matt 1) as she was. She also knew that the Messiah would be born of a descendant from that tribe. (Ps 132:11)
6. Mary knew that her son would be a “Holy Child” and would be great and be called “the Son of the Highest” (Luke 1:32) and “the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)  And that He would sit on the throne of David, reign over the house of Jacob (Israel), and His kingdom would have no end (Luke 1:33)
7. Mary knew that her pregnancy was a miracle. (Luke 1:34-37)
8. Mary knew that she was a lowly handmaid. But she was committed to the Lord and she knew she was willing to serve according to God’s will (Luke 1:38).
9. Mary knew that the Lord had chosen her and had given her this great honor to bring forth the Messiah (Luke 1:48-49)
10. Mary knew that her son’s name would be Jesus (Luke 1:31) and that He would save His people from their sins (Mat 1:21)

What did Mary know AFTER Jesus was born?

Mary knew her child, born of a miraculous conception, was special.  

1. The shepherds came to see the Child after having been told by an angel (Luke 2:11-12).
2. Wise men came from the East seeking to see the One, born King of the Jews. (Matt 2:2ff)  They came and worshipped Him and gave Him precious gifts of great value (Mat 2:11).
3. Mary knew that devout Simeon proclaimed Jesus to be the salvation from the Lord, a light to the  Gentiles, and the glory of Israel (Luke 2:30). She knew that her child would be destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and would be a sign that would be spoken against.  (Luke 2:34)
4. Mary also knew that the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed. But a sword would pierce her own soul. (Luke 2:35)
5. Mary knew that Anna, the praying prophetess in the Temple, spoke of her child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38).

Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)

Lessons to be Learned from Mary

1. Be humble and present yourself to God, to be used by Him. Mary considered herself a handmaid/servant of the Lord. We should not think highly of ourselves, but rather humble ourselves before God (James 4:10, 1 Pet 5:60. 
2. Be willing to be used by God.  Mary willingly yielded herself to God. She was surrendered to do His will  (James 4:7). We must “die to self” to live for God. (Luke 9:23)
3. Seek the wisdom of mature brothers and sisters in the faith. Mary turned to an elder, both in age and in the faith (her cousin Elizabeth), to find a better understanding of all that she had been told.  We should turn to brothers and sisters in Christ to help us grow in biblical understanding and faithful living. (James 3:13)
4. Trust and obey. (1 Tim 4:10) When God reveals His truths, His will, and His ways to you, ponder them in your heart. Mary did!  (Luke 2:19) With what Mary DID know and with what she did NOT know, Mary lived for God’s purposes and plan to use her to give birth to and raise His Son, our Lord Jesus.  May we now live with love for Him, in His service, for His glory, for our good, and with love may we glorify God by loving and serving our neighbors.

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