Mary, Did You Know?
Posted on Dec 23, 2025 by Heather Lewis
Last Saturday I played for the wedding of a lovely bride who adores Christmas, and who sang in many children’s programs with me at Indian Heights United Methodist Church. The wedding sermon was inspiring, as Pastor Ali talked about how Mary and Joseph had a rough start as a young couple, yet leaned on each other and grew together as they raised their Holy Son.
The next day in church we explored how Mary and Joseph felt when angels told them God’s plan for their lives. We sang songs to give us the perspective Mary and Joseph may have had as they bore the Savior of the world: “Mary, Did You Know?,” “Be Born in Me,” and “Strange Way to Save the World.” Pastor J talked about not allowing fear to determine whether we follow God’s plan, but to do hard things even if they frighten us, knowing He is always with us.
The writer of “Mary Did You Know?” was tasked to help write music for his church choir’s Christmas presentation in 1984. Mark Lowry, already a celebrated gospel music recording artist, decided to write a song as if he was interviewing Mary on being a mother to Jesus. He started thinking of the questions he would have if he were to sit down and have coffee with Mary: What was it like raising God? What did you know? What didn't you know? His favorite line was, “When you kiss your little baby, you’ve kissed the face of God.” He didn’t find a melody that matched the power of his words, so he filed it away for several years.
In 1988 Mark joined Bill Gaither’s Vocal Band, and two years later he asked songwriter Buddy Greene to put “Mary, Did You Know?” to music. They recorded it with Michael English, and for the first time in decades, a new Christmas song was considered a staple of holiday celebrations. For the first time ever, southern gospel music had given the world a Christmas carol.
I hope you allow yourself to dwell in joy this holiday season, and see things from a new perspective as you celebrate Christ’s hope in the world.
In Christ’s love,
Heather Lewis
Director of Worship and Music
Director of Youth Ministries