Mary, did you know (a few more things)?

My personal Christmas prep this year has consisted of hand-copying various scriptures, both from the Old and New Testament, that build toward the advent of the Messiah, the Christ, little baby Jesus.  This week I have been simply copying Luke 2, which is fantastic because it is such a familiar passage for me, but slowing down for "i's" and "t's" and punctuation and hand cramps has absolutely helped me to pick up on some details or key points that I forget to notice during a Charlie Brown Christmas.

Among these details is the one that struck me this morning in Luke 2:35.  It came during Joseph and Mary's visit to the temple where they encountered Simeon.  After praising God for what their little baby was about to accomplish, Simeon turned to Mary, looked her straight in the eye, and said, "and a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Gah.

Any mother would hate to hear those words about her eight day old baby, but to hear those words come from the mouth of a prophet and know, deep in your soul, that they were absolutely true...ugh.

I was reflecting on this and thinking about the song "Mary, Did You Know?" which I know, I know, is the source of great controversy.  "Of course she knew! God told her! It says it right there!" But at the same time, I think we can all agree that there's a big difference between knowing something is going to happen, and witnessing it with your own eyes when it finally does.

Either way, I was thinking about a few more things I wonder if Mary realized would happen, or the weight of, or the cost of. Do you think she planned to be a disciple of her son - like a "travel from place to place, tending his needs" disciple? As a mom, I wonder if she was prepared for the pain of watching people reject and threaten the life of her son. And also as a mom, was she ready for the heartbreak of watching her other children reject their savior, scoffing him instead of submitting to him? What Christ-following mother wouldn't grieve over that?

And ultimately, to know every moment of her life as his mother was leading to that prophecy of when her own soul would be cloven in two because of him.

So whether you're on Team Eye-Roll or Team Tears-Streaming-Down-Your-Face with this song, I think it is worth taking a few minutes to consider what Mary knew - not whether or not she saw it coming, but whether she was prepared to experience it all. 

And in so doing, we cannot let our eyes rest on Mary, because she was not our Savior, but her life and her commitment in these 33-years-worth of moments can direct us toward the one she gave all of herself to - Jesus Christ, our (and her) Lord.

Mary, Did You Know (a Few More Things)

Mary did you know

            For you, your full-grown son would turn water into wine?

Did you even know

            if he would live long enough to become a man?

Did you know that you’d follow him

            Until you wept and your feet bled?

That the life of his disciple

            Meant nowhere to lay your head?

 

Mary did you know

            That your other sons would hate him and reject him?

Mary did you know

            That for your own sin he’d stand silent though condemned?

Did you know that you’d stand and watch

            The ground hold a crimson pool?

And as he cried out to his Father

            That a sword would pierce your soul?

 

Mary, did you know?

His Name is John

It had been 9 months since he had uttered a word.  For 9 months he pondered the moment he was confronted by a messenger of God. Nine months had he considered the angel's words and promises without being able to describe to anyone the glory of that moment.  For 9 months he had been kicking himself for his faithless response.

I wonder how he felt when Mary came to visit their home and recounted her story to him and Elizabeth. "Why didn't I just say that?" I imagine he shook his head as he marveled at the humble, wise, faithful response of his little cousin. "Why did I have to challenge it? 'May it be to me as you have said.'" (shaking his head in mournful silence) "'May it be to me...'"

But he learned to communicate without his voice.  He was able to share with his elderly wife what the angel had revealed to him. Together they anticipated the fulfillment of those words, and together they watched as her belly grew. They knew that everything that had been told to him in that fateful moment in the temple was coming to pass. And together they chose to believe what God was doing.

The moment came. The boy was born. And the pain of childbirth was washed away by the joy of parenthood and the thrill of God's plan in action.

But still, Zechariah was silent.

I wonder if he thought that would be the moment. "Until the day this happens," the angel had said. 

Eight days passed. Sleepless nights, overwhelming joys, fearful moments. Eight days since the word of God that had been handed to Zechariah was fulfilled.

And still, he was silent.

They all gathered around for the ceremony - friends and neighbors rejoicing with the aged couple. "How can this be?" "God has shown favor!" "This child is a gift from the Lord." They asked for a name, but didn't trust or respect the woman's response. Turning to Zechariah, they hoped he could find a way to tell them she was wrong.

With eager hands, and resolute assurance, he wrote his answer: His name is John.

Not "We're thinking John." Not "He will be John." Not even, "Look, I know it doesn't make sense, but God's up to something, and we were told to call him John."

His name is John.

This is who he is. It is already done.  The plan is already in action.

And as soon as he gave this response, this unabashedly faithful response, his tongue was freed. 

Then, with a mouth that had been imprisoned to his faithlessness for 9 months, he praised the name of His God.

He could have first said, "I can speak!" He could have gathered up the son of his old age and exclaimed "my boy!" But his first words were words of faithful, humble, adoring praise of the God who was sending salvation to the world and including him and his simple family in his plan.

And all of these things made people wonder, and awe, and ask what God was doing.

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Oh sweet Zechariah. I've always had a soft spot for him.  It never felt completely fair that he was struck dumb because of a simple question - a perfectly reasonable question, if you ask me. 

But without his long stretch of silence - without that introductory moment of naive faithlessness - the steel-eyed, faithfilled, convicted moment of "his name is John" would have been utterly lost on me.

Zechariah understood what God was about.  He knew he had been given a role to play. He was done questioning and wondering and excusing. With those simple words, "His name is John," Zechariah was all in.

Though it took a 9-month minute, Zechariah did what anyone ought to do when they realize that God is ahead of them and always working, and that He has chosen to include them in His plan: he obeyed. 

And he spoke! And he praised. And people took notice, because people notice things like faith and conviction. "What is God doing here?" they wondered. 

What do I learn from Zechariah's "his name is John" moment? When God has a plan and gives you a part in it, play your part.  Don't ask why, don't ask how, don't say "this can't be" or "what about". Be a person of faith like Zechariah. Let your steel-eyed conviction leave an impact on those around you.  

Let your faith cause people to wonder, and awe, and ask what God is doing.