The Virgin Birth

by Merchant, Paul | Category: General | Dec 1993

Before His birth - before His conception - divine descriptions and impressive titles were given to Jesus:

"Immanuel ... God with us", "Son of the Most High... the holy One ... the Son of God" (1). He came into our human stream through the power of the Most High and the manner of His entry was unique. The effects of His coming are still rippling across the world 2000 years later as people continue to respond to the gospel.

Matthew records that God entered our world, not at the birth, but at the conception of Jesus: "what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit" (2). The Lord's divine nature was not adopted at birth; He possessed divine being prior to the annunciation to Mary. Other scriptures reveal that He was a person in the Godhead before His incamation. "In the beginning was the Word ... He was with God in the beginning ... The Word became flesh" (3).

Worship

It would be anathema to a Jew of first century Palestine to allow his offspring to be worshipped. Worship was to God and not towards any person. But this Child was the excep~ tion. With grace and humility the young Jewish family welcomed the visit of the Magi from the easL "On coming to the house, they saw the Child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him" (4). The Messianic tifles and the worship by the visiting foreigners affnmed that the young Child Jesus was indeed "God with us".

Resurrection

There are parallels between the entry and exit of Jesus, between His birth and resurrection. The events at the manger and the empty tomb are about new beginnings. Both have a message of hope. Both events display God's miraculous intervention. Angels give the news firsdy to women and offer words of reassurance, "Do not be afraid" (5). Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, it is equally within His power to conceive a child by the Holy Spirit to be born of the virgin Mary. The miracle of Holy Spirit conception followed by resurrection demands uncomprising acceptance, or outright denial that they ever happened. For the Christian, the resurrection is a pillar of Christian belief, with the truth of the virgin birth standing beside it.

In His Image

In the sure knowledge that God became Man, ~ enhance our spiritual understanding through appreciating that man was made in the image of God, although nrarred by sin through the fall. By God becoming Man, He has given us a special place in His purposes. We can bear His image, we can have a likeness to the divine nature if we are sons of God. We are governed by His spiritual laws and are created for eternity.

The mystery of godliness is great:

He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory(6).

Bible references are ftom the NI. V

(1) Mat. 1:23; Luke 1:29-38) (2) Mat. 1:20 (3) John 1:1,Z14 (4) Mat. 2:11 (5) Luke 1:30(6) 1 Tim. 3:16.

Merchant, Paul | Dec 1993
General