“Mary, Did You Know?”

I first heard Mary, Did You Know? sung by a small ensemble at the water’s edge of a town harbor during an outdoor Christmas celebration over ten years ago. The lyrics and music throughout the song call you to meet and to know the Lord Jesus. The song’s bridge contains the words that caught me then and still give music for my heart and bring tears to my eyes: “The deaf will hear, the dead will live again.”

In the past I’ve mentioned my severe hearing problem. Those who are handicapped or have a chronic illness know the hope of someday never again having to bear up under that weight.

The last enemy that Jesus will abolish is death. My brother died in 1995. If someone you love has died in the Lord Jesus, you know the precious, precious value of the certainty of once again being with him or with her.

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He anointed me to preach

The Gospel to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim

Release to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set free those who are oppressed,

To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

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And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:16-21

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The video below features Mark Lowry singing Mary, Did You Know? Lowry wrote the lyrics and the music is by Buddy Greene.

At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Luke 7:21-23

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In the NAS New Testament quotes of Old Testament passages are in all capitals: the phrases in Luke 4 that refer to Isaiah16:1-2 are in all capitals, and in the Luke 7 passage phrases from Isaiah 35:5 (blind receive sight) and Isaiah 61:1 are also in capitals. I have put these into upper and lower case for easier reading.