Advent Calendar Dec. 20th, "Mary Did You Know?" My Favorite Version

And an Appreciation For The Genius Of Gaither's Mark Lowry, Who Wrote The Song With Buddy Green

“Mary Did You Know?” Is a song that gets recorded by new artists, almost every year. I decided, after reviewing many, that Mark Lowry’s is my favorite.

He wrote the song’s lyric, in 1984, (see video at bottom) so he sings it with a special passion and connection. (You’re all invited to dispute me or link to versions you like more.)

My friend Richard, who I’ve written about here in the past, loved Gaither music so much, he sat for hours and hours at the veteran’s home in Minneapolis and listened to them day and night, with headphones. That was how he survived the spiritual onslaught of Covid.

I wish we had had a chance to discuss Mark Lowry, who, among his many gifts, pulls off Evangelical Christian stand up comedy. Not easy. He even riffs to hilarious effect about the relationship between Jesus and Mary!

I can’t imagine anything harder.

The way he handles the wedding at Cana is hysterical, and truly unique.

If you’re going to call your mama “Woman…” you better be God.

From Mary Did You Know? Wikipedia page, it turns out some Christians got upset:

”The lyrics have been criticised for perceived ambiguity or lack of scriptural or theological depth.[7][8] Baptist theologian Michael Frost suggests it is the "most sexist Christmas song ever written... It treats her like a clueless child... Could you imagine a song asking Abraham 17 times if he knew he'd be the father of a great nation?"[9]”

I don’t experience the song as sexist at all. I think it’s wonderful.

Here, Lowry, tells the story of how the song came to be.