And [Mary] shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 1:21-23 KJV; cf. Luke 1:26-38
Anyone growing up within African American Christian traditions will often hear one of the various titles of Jesus Christ often used in worship is “Mary’s Baby” or “Mary’s Little Baby.” The old saints simply do not restrict its use only during Advent, Christmas, or Epiphany. It’s used virtually all the time. To some, this use of this title may seem either sentimentalist or (perhaps) theologically uncouth, since the Lord grew to adulthood. However, the saints within the African American Church use this title in a robust liturgical and profoundly theological sense.
When the saints praise Jesus and call him “Mary’s Baby” they declare their faith in this Jesus, the One born to the Virgin. As attested in the Apostles’ Creed, they “believe in Jesus Christ, [God's] only Son, our Lord; [who] was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus as “Mary’s Baby” has three theological affirmations wrapped into it. First, in acknowledging Jesus as the “Mary’s Baby,” African American Christians acknowledge Jesus as the incarnate Son. We acknowledge God’s divine plan of redemption by sending the Son into the world to be God with us, Emmanuel. For us and our salvation, the Son became human and was born to a young woman named Mary of Nazareth. Secondly, we acknowledge the place of Mary within the salvation history. According to God’s eternal and unsearchable wisdom, God selected this young woman to bear the Savior into the world. Mary willingly yielded your life to the word given by the angel of the Lord and placed herself in harm’s way to bear the Christ knowing the costs to her reputation and her life. Thirdly, we acknowledge the person and work of the Holy Spirit in the preparation of the body of the Son within the Virgin’s womb. The Spirit, the Lord and life-Giver, mysteriously crafted the body of the Son without the agency of human sperm. “For with God,” says Gabriel, “nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37).
To worship the Lord as “Mary’s Baby” is to celebrate the coming of the Lord to save the world from sin and destruction. To worship the Jesus as “Mary’s Baby” is to acknowledge this Jesus will return to consummate the divine plan of redemption. This Christmas, let us all give praise the Father for sending the Son into the world by the power of the Spirit. We celebrate Jesus, the King born in a manger. We celebrate Jesus, the Savior born a defenseless babe. We celebrate Jesus, the eternal Son of the Father, Mary’s Baby. Thanks be to God.
tonight, the Eve of the Celebration of our Lord’s Birth, I cannot help but adore the Lord as “Mary’s Baby.”
