MARY, DID YOU KNOW?
/Mary, Did You Know?
"Mary Did You Know" lyrics by Mark Lowry
~ H E A V E N ~
WAITING FOR THE WORD CREATIVE COMMONS WWW.FLICKR.COM
GOD: My Son, it is almost time for you to leave.
JESUS: Yes, Father, I am ready.
GOD: You can still change your mind, Son, and not go. Our seeing Earth’s future is nothing compared to your experiencing it in a temporary, human body. You will discover it is not easy for a man to fight Satan in the flesh
JESUS: I know, but I want to go and fulfill this mission of outreach for You. It’s the only way we can prove to mankind we are real and how much we do care about them.
GOD: Thank you, Son. Your willingness to leave the glory of Heaven to go redeem the sinful Earth makes me proud and grateful.
JESUS: You are welcome my wonderful Abba Father! I have seen the hardships I will experience. But, I remember seeing all the beautiful faces of the people who will believe and join us. With Your Presence, I am willing to tolerate the temptations of Satan, bear the rejection of man, and the endure the torture upon of my flesh.
GOD: The only thing I regret is when I must turn away from You while on the cross when the sins of the world are being placed upon You as the perfect Lamb of Sacrifice.
JESUS: My suffering for the sins of the world will be the highlight of our plan to save whosoever will believe. If I do not complete this mission nobody on Earth will be able to be saved due to Satan’s high level of evil influence on the world.
GOD: I am looking forward to welcoming my new sons and daughters to their new home in Heaven!
JESUS: Yes, and I look forward to getting to know my new brothers and sisters.
GOD: I will miss your loving presence here in Heaven, my Son. Your thirty-three years on Earth will go by slow for you.
JESUS: But, for you, Father, it will seem like thirty-three Earth days. We will be in constant communication while I’m on Earth, especially after John baptizes me in the Jordan River. I go into the wilderness for forty days to talk over the details of my teaching and preaching itinerary with You. I will say what you tell me to say and do what I see you do.
GOD: I am very pleased to call You my only begotten Son! And, I look forward to rewarding You soon with my words, “a job well done”. Are we ready for the greatest conception upon the Earth to happen?
JESUS CHRIST '06 BY HARRY ANDERSON WAITING FOR THE WORLD CREATIVE COMMONS WWW.FLICKR.COM
JESUS: Yes, my Father. . . I AM.
~~ E A R T H ~~
A fourteen year old girl was in a deep sleep when she heard her name called. She sat up on her pallet as an image grew brighter and brighter in the corner of the bedroom. Across the Angel’s massive chest was a thick leather strap that connected to a gold scabbard on his right hip, where a dazzling, six foot sword hung. His golden hair framed his stoic, masculine face while his blue eyes swirled like two whirlpools and gazed down upon the trembling Jewish girl.
“Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary’s heart beat wildly inside her chest as he spoke! She couldn’t believe an Angel was in her room telling her she was going to give birth to the Son of God? She shouldn’t have eaten that second bowl of leek soup before bed. For centuries, this Angelic message to Mary was what every Jewish mother wished for one of her daughters! “How can this be?” she told the Angel, “my betrothed husband, Joseph, and I aren’t married, yet?”
The angel answered her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
When the Angel of the Lord disappeared a misty, white cloud appeared and hovered over Mary. The wonderful presence of God melted Mary’s fears and filled her with such hope it was easy for her to accept God’s will graciously. She never questioned why He would choose a lowly peasant girl to be the mother of His Son.
When Mary told Joseph the whole story and that she was with God’s child, he became filled with unbelief and fear. How could this lovely girl from a strong, Jewish family lie to him? It didn’t make sense for God to choose a poor maiden girl and a carpenter to be parents of His… Messiah? Both he and Mary were from the lineage of David but most Jews believed the promised Messiah would be from a privileged Jewish family with political power to free the Jewish slaves from the harsh Roman Empire.
Being a kind and just man, Joseph did not want to turn Mary over to the Sanhedrin. The thought of sweet Mary being stoned to death made him feel sick to his stomach and anxious to find a secret way to hide her with a friend or relative in another town far away.
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
After a sleepless night of worry, Joseph finally fell into a fitful sleep. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Joseph rose from his pallet the third hour (9 AM) and headed straight to Mary’s house and told her what the Angel had said. Within a week the couple was married and Mary was living under her husband’s roof. It was a comfort for Mary to know that Joseph didn’t expect marital relations until after the baby was born. Unfortunately, there was gossip about the hasty wedding that took place right after Mary got back from visiting her Aunt Elizabeth in Judah for three months.
Due to a decree sent out from Caesar Augustus to tax the entire world, Joseph was eager to remove his very pregnant wife from all the wagging tongues in Nazareth. Mary’s mother was not happy with her son-in-law for wanting to take her very pregnant daughter on a 100 mile trip over rugged terrain to be taxed in Bethlehem.
“Mary is due soon and you should let her stay here!” The worried mother cried. “Are you prepared to deliver the baby on the side of the road without a midwife? Think about it!”
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you
Joseph chuckled, “Do you believe God is not going to provide for His Only Son’s needs? Besides, the scripture says that though Bethlehem be little among the thousands in Judah, yet out of thee shall come the ruler of Israel.”
Joseph and Mary packed Joseph’s mule with all their needs for the long trip.
They went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David to be taxed with Mary being great with child.
JOSEPH & MARY GOING TO BETHLEHEM TO BE TAXED BY KATHY STORRIE 2014
On the journey south, Mary found herself becoming enamored with her husband. Ever since his dream and the wedding he was more confident and attentive to her needs. Did he have a purpose now and more faith in God? His selfless humility that spilled over each day under the relentless hot sun was enough to make her heart ache… to know her husband.
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
At the end of the fourth day the Anointed One was jumping inside her like a shafan (rabbit). Under a clump of acacia trees, the weary Joseph set up camp for his exhausted wife, before he fished for their supper in the Jordan River. After they finished eating, and they were relaxing next to the river, Mary unlatched her husband’s scandals. She dipped a clean rag in the water and gently cleaned his bloody, cracked and swollen feet. When she finished and looked up their eyes locked; she saw more in his eyes than appreciation.
The dusty streets of Bethlehem buzzed like the honeybees they saw swarming over the red and purple Roman Nettle flowers on the outskirts of the little town. Mary gasped as her baby somersaulted to escape the confines of her womb. Was the King of kings going to make His grand entrance under a tax collector’s table? As they finished their census with the grumpy, tax collector, an old man motioned for Joseph’s attention.
“Hurry, Joseph! This child is coming soon. . . room or no room!”
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will calm the storm with his hand?
“Hold on, my love, God has a place for His Son to be born!” Joseph soon returned and kissed Mary on both cheeks as he lifted her up on the donkey. “Thanks be to God Almighty!” he exclaimed.
Mary managed a smile but she was too miserable to respond. Her husband led them out of town and toward some shepherd caves. Half-way there, without warning, the donkey brawled, jerked the leash from Joseph’s hand and took off down the dusty trail. Joseph ran like a lunatic to save his wife from falling off the donkey. The crazy animal was not only risking the life of his wife, but also the anointed child who would save the world, if He survived, no thanks to a spunky donkey who smelled fresh hay.
The couple cracked up laughing as Joseph lifted Mary off the prancing animal filling his mouth. “I never realized she was so hungry,” Mary said. “I saw you giving her most of your bread portions these last few days.”
“Yeah, I should be the hungry one around here!” he chuckled as he looked around the cave for a dry place to put Mary. One corner was piled high with hay so he sat Mary down on a rock. As he reached for the blankets in a bag an older woman walked into the cave with a big pile of blankets. “Aaa, who are you?” he asked.
Mary did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God!
“I am your answer to prayer, that’s who! Your woman’s going to deliver that baby soon and we must get ready! I’ll make the bed on the fresh hay with these blankets while you go get fresh water in those two buckets by the cave entrance. You will find a well …”
“I’m from here, remember? I know where the well is. Thanks, anyway!” he said as he grabbed the buckets and darted out of the cave with renewed energy.
Joseph was on his way back with the water when he heard Mary scream. He ran back to the cave all wet now and handed the midwife the half-empty buckets as he looked down at his wife. The woman said that everything was under control and she shooed him away. Joseph liked the privacy wall the old woman made for Mary by hanging animal hides over a wooden, ceiling beam. The heat from the fire plus pure exhaustion worked together to force Joseph to collapse and rest on a bed of soft hay.
And Mary brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
CHRISTMAS BABY JESUS BY CARMEN RODRIGUEZ CREATIVE COMMONS FLICKR
Mary did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb
Oh Mary did you know?
Mary gave birth to most wonderful baby boy in the whole, wide world! Joseph couldn't take his off her and Jesus. His eyes rotated back and forth as he feasting on his miracle family. Jesus was absolutely perfect and content as Joseph looked down at him over Mary's shoulder. As Jesus nursed his mother he opened his big brown eyes and grinned up at his earthly father; Joseph melted and was totally smitten.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
SHEPHERDS * WAITING FOR THE WORD * CREATIVE COMMONS * WWW.FLICKR.COM
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Mary did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Baby Jesus was sleeping in a manger when his parents heard voices outside the cave. Joseph leaped up off the bed of hay and peeked around the privacy wall and saw four shepherds with staffs standing outside the cave entrance, looking in. "We are were sent by angels to see the babe, Christ the Lord!"
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Mary did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
Mary felt beyond blessed and honored to be chosen by God to birth and raise His wonderful Son. As she studied Jesus' facial features and his dark hair, she was thankful he looked like any other new born, Jewish boy. He would at least blend in and not stick out in a crowd. The part that puzzled her, though, was how would Jesus grow up and become great like the angel said and rule a kingdom from His own throne?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am.
****
"Mary Did You Know" lyrics by Mark Lowry
Mary pondered in her heart that it was going to be interesting and exciting to see how God is going to make this prophecy happen.
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
