Introduction

The well-known song, Mary Did You Know, can be heard every Christmas on every Christian radio station around the United States. We have heard many people say, “Yes, she knew!” However, we think that they are missing the point of the song. Even though Mary did have a different understanding of who Jesus was, and we are sure she fully understood that she was raising the Messiah. Mary probably did not fully understand what the prophet, Simeon, had meant when He told her that the “sword would pierce through her own heart (Lk. 2:35).” She probably did not fully understand the magnitude of what she, Joseph, or Jesus would suffer. She would watch her firstborn live a rugged life. Mary would never see Him do the things that most would do. He wouldn’t marry or have children. He would be tortured and murdered in front of her very eyes. Mary was the only person present at both Jesus’ birth and death. She saw Him arrive as her precious baby and saw Him die as her precious Savior. She probably did not know or understand the grief she would feel as a mother. The weight she would carry was not something anyone could prepare for or fully grasp beforehand. After all, Mary was only human, a woman needing a Savior, and that Savior happened to be her baby boy. With all of this said, there are still many things Mary did know. Today, we will explore what she knew and how she responded to a call that was both a blessing and a burden.

Delivering Mary’s Blessing & Burden (Luke 1:26-32)

• Often, when we read the story of Mary’s visit from the angel, Gabriel, we assume that angels visiting people in those days was typical. It was not.
• There had not been a prophet in 400 years. This was a big deal!
• Mary was betrothed to Joseph. When a couple was betrothed, they were under the obligation of faithfulness, and a divorce was required to break the betrothal. This was not a casual promise.
• The angel told Mary three things about herself. He told her that she was highly favored, that the Lord was with her, and that she was blessed.
• These things are true of all believers in Christ. We are highly favored (Eph. 1:6), the Lord is with us (Mt. 28:20), and we are blessed (Eph. 1:3).
• Mary was humble. It’s easy to spot in the fact that she was perplexed about what was happening.
• The angel told Mary many things about Jesus. This is what Mary did know:
1. She knew she was having a boy, and His name was Jesus.
2. He will be great: No one in History will surpass His greatness.
3. He will be called the Son of the Most High, meaning “will be the Son of God.” “Most High” is language reserved for God (Lk. 1:35, 76; 6:35; Acts 7:48). John the Baptist was described as a “prophet” of the Most High (Luke 1:76) whereas Jesus is described as the “Son” of the Most High.
4. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David: (2 Sam. 7:12–13, 16). Mary and Joseph were in the Davidic line, and the angel used language of the prophecies of Israel’s Messiah. Jesus’ role as Israel’s Messiah would be pretty clear language to Mary at this point.
5. He will reign over the house of Jacob, and His Kingdom will have no end. This narrative also portrays Jesus as the anticipated Messiah. Like David, he is the King of Israel. The “house of Jacob” was a traditional term to describe Israel (Ex. 19:3; Isa 2:5–6; 8:17; 48:1).
6. Jesus would be born of virgin birth: Mary knew that by her becoming pregnant, she was seeing the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14- the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.
• Mary knew that she was the mother of the promised Messiah. However, Mary grew up believing that the Messiah would most likely be a warrior who would overthrow the government of Rome and end their persecution. She most likely pictured Jesus as a better version of King David.

Mary’s Response to Blessing & Burden (Luke 1:34-38; 46-56)

• Mary’s response to this news was, “Yes, and amen.” We can learn a few things from this response.
• Mary first responded by agreeing with what Gabriel said about her. She would not question what God said. Mary then responded with a declaration of faith. This should be the response of every believer to every promise of God.
• We aren’t told exactly when it happened, but we do know that the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, and she conceived Jesus. The presence of the Holy Spirit was on her like it was on Moses when he would come down from the mountain. Mary knew she was pregnant with the Savior of the world.
• Mary was blessed among women, but this burden started when she began informing people.
• At this point, the burden is heavy. Her betrothal to Joseph seems to be falling apart. At this, most people might be saying, no, thank you, but not Mary. She responds to the heaviness of the burden by worshipping the Lord. Unquestioning faith: Mary immediately believed the angel’s message despite its seemingly impossible nature, demonstrating complete trust in God’s power.
• Humility and service: Her “Behold, the servant of the Lord” indicates a willingness to be used by God as an instrument for His purposes.
• Acceptance of God’s plan: Even though the news could have been overwhelming, Mary embraced the challenge and submitted to God’s will.

Our Response to Blessing & Burden

• God’s best servants are often ordinary people who make themselves available to Him.
• Responding to Blessing and Burden
1. When God sends a messenger, Listen: We rarely hear of people seeing angels. We now have the Holy Spirit. However, often, God will send one of His servants to speak to us. Listen. Test the word through the bible.
2. Respond with praise and thanksgiving: When receiving blessings, acknowledge God as the source and express gratitude for His provision.
3. Seek God’s guidance in burdens: When facing difficulties, pray to God, seeking His strength and wisdom to navigate the situation.
4. Offer ourselves as instruments: Be open to serving others and fulfilling God’s purposes, even when sacrificing or stepping outside your comfort zone.
5. Trust in God’s timing: Believe that God has a plan even when you don’t understand the circumstances and wait patiently for His answers.

Conclusion

What did Mary know? She knew both the blessing and the burden of being the mother of her Savior. Mary, like her Son, was acquainted with grief. She knew she was called with a purpose and was willing to fulfill that purpose because she trusted God. Each year when we hear that familiar and possibly overplayed Christmas song, Mary Did You Know, we will stop and reflect on what Mary knew, but also what Mary did not yet understand. We will also be reminded that just as Mary was highly favored and blessed, so are we as children of God. May we learn from Mary’s response to her blessing and burden. May our answer be, “Yes and amen!”

Discussion Questions

As you reflect on the birth of Jesus from Mary’s perspective, how does it impact you?
What are the takeaways from Mary’s response to her blessings and burdens?
When you think of your own life, how has your response to God’s blessings and burdens changed?