New Christmas hymn - Mary Did You Know?

Mary Did You Know? - Christian song by Buddy Greene and Mark Lowry

This is a relatively new song in the Christmas season repertory. Lyrics by Mark Lowry, score by Buddy Greene. Our Celebration groups has been performing it in our big Christmas special service for many years. I was listening to out 1999 service the other day, getting into the advent season. We do it as a duet with the choir singing some backup. In 1999 we had Omari Tau and Kim Cade as soloists. We have never had better. Others have done a wonderful job too. Perhaps it is just that Omari and Kim were the first. They created the roles so to speak. I have it on cassette. The recording is not too good. So it's better I cannot share it. You could not experience it as I experienced it.

This song creates a wonderful word picture: Mary did you know how amazing your son would be? Mary did you know he would be God in the flesh. I think the implied answer is that Mary could not possibly know. She could not possible imagine. And neither can we. We cannot imagine what he did for us. We cannot imagine how God could be a human too. The God that created the vast universe grew as a fetus in a young woman's womb.

Google shows the song has been covered by Reba McIntyre, Kenny Rogers and Wynona Judd, and Clay Aiken.
Youtube search finds quite a few hits. I am biased but I do not think the Rogers-Judd duet is as good as the one we do. There needs to be more passion. The is Donny Osmond, Kathy Mattea, Daniella Dalli, and more. Perhaps the best solo is by original writer Mark Lowery.

Perhaps the power of the song is shown by the varying interpretations of the artists doing this song and how many "big names" are singing this wonderful song. I think this song may outlast our generation and become a permanent hit around Christmas time.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've 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 a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels tried?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and 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 will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.