I know that Christmas has passed, a new year has begun, the decorations have been put away, and the music has been turned off. But I want to encourage you to linger a little bit longer on the holiday we just celebrated. I want you to contemplate the significance of Christmas. I want you to stand in wonder at the incarnation.
One of the more recent Christmas songs that elicits this type of response is “Mary, Did You Know?” It seems people either hate this song or absolutely love it. I’m not going to make a case for either, but I would like to use it as an illustration. The song uses the question in the title rhetorically, and I think effectively, to prompt us to consider who this child born to Mary is and what this child would do. Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Would calm the storm with His hand? Would give sight to the blind man? Would save your sons and daughters? Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Will one day rule the nations? Is heaven’s perfect lamb? Is the great I AM?
The reason why I think this song can help us wonder at the incarnation is because of the form the song takes. If we were to simply turn the questions the song asks into statements about who Jesus is and what He would do, then the response the song elicits would be different. This song helps us consider who Jesus is and what He would do all from the perspective of Mary. What did she know and when did she know it?
There are indications in the birth narrative of Jesus that Mary knew more than we give her credit for. The Magnificat, Mary’s song of response after visiting Elizabeth, demonstrates Mary’s knowledge of God keeping His promises, showing mercy to His people, bringing down those in power and raising up the humble (Luke 1:46-55). This song comes immediately after Elizabeth asks Mary, “Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (Luke 1:43)? Elizabeth knew, perhaps from the significance of the child she would bear (cf. Luke 1:15-17), that Mary was pregnant with her Lord. This seems to indicate that at a minimum Elizabeth understood Mary’s child to be the Messiah, which would echo what Gabriel told Mary in Luke 1:35. The angels announced to the shepherds the birth of “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11), which they shared with Mary and Joseph (2:17), and perhaps others that were there (2:18).
There is a note of foreboding in all this as well. Simeon hinted at this in 2:34-35 where he tells Mary, “This child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” What did Mary think of this revelation? In light of all the good news associated with this child, especially for the poor, downtrodden, afflicted, and humble, how conflicting a message was this? You’re going to be cut to the heart? Perhaps, Mary was troubled and apprehensive as well as amazed and filled with wonder (cf. 2:19).
We have the advantage of knowing the whole story, but this advantage can detract from responding to the incarnation with wonder. We would be mistaken if we thought there are no more surprises for us, no more presents to unwrap, no more excitement stirred up by anticipating the unknown or unexpected. The depths of God’s salvation are unsearchable and the mystery of the incarnation cannot be fully grasped. Let us not become dull to who God is or what God has done. Let us continue to ponder in amazement at the incarnation.