Why the virgin birth?

In 1964 “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” was written and produced. The very first song broadcast from outer space was, “Jingle Bells.” Over the last 50 years our nation has become increasingly secular. It is good for us to focus on the person of Jesus. Very few scholars doubt the existence of Jesus. There is a huge body of evidence that supports His existence. The New Testament is a vast trove of information documenting His existence. Even secular documents acknowledge the existence of Jesus.

The real issue is, “Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Was He more than a man who merely lived in Israel in the first century?” Much of the debate about the Lord Jesus begins with His conception and birth. There are many theories as to how Jesus came to be in the womb of Mary. There are really only three possibilities. One option is that Jesus was the normal offspring of Joseph and Mary. However, both His friends and His enemies denied that Jesus was the child of both Joseph and Mary.

Another option is that Jesus was illegitimate. Either Mary became pregnant by Joseph or by some other man. The third option is that Jesus was born of a virgin as the Bible attests. Two gospel writers- Matthew and Luke- deal with the birth of Jesus. Both accounts deny that He was the offspring of Mary and Joseph. They both assert that Jesus was conceived of a virgin.

A Jewish marriage in the first century began with the betrothal or engagement. This lasted about 12 months. The betrothal was a binding contract just like marriage. During the betrothal the couple did not live together.

The Bible does not tell us the ages of Joseph and Mary. In their culture, most men were betrothed by age of twenty. Most Jewish girls were betrothed just after puberty- sometime around 13 to 15 years old. It is possible Mary was in her late teens but this is unlikely. This was a very young couple!

At some point during their engagement something remarkable happened to Mary. “She (Mary) was found to be with Child by the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18). The Holy Spirit was the source of the Child growing in her womb.

The Bible teaches a virgin birth. The very first messianic prophecy in the Bible hinted at a supernatural conception for the Messiah. Genesis 3:15 promised Jesus would come through “the seed of the woman” and crush Satan’s head. Isaiah 7:14 reads, “The virgin shall be with Child.” The angel Gabriel told Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you and for that reason the holy Child will be called the Son of God.” The angel told Joseph, “The Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20). Galatians 4:4 unequivocally states, “Christ was sent forth (commissioned), He was born of a woman.”

Why was the virgin birth necessary? Why is it crucial to our faith? The virgin birth was not the cause of Jesus’ deity. Jesus has no beginning. He is equal to God the Father. The virgin birth enabled Jesus to become the God-Man.

When a man and a woman come together and conceive a child, they produce a third person. Their child becomes a unique person. Jesus already existed as a person. His possessed a divine nature. The virgin birth allowed Jesus to add humanity to His divine nature. Jesus became the God-Man. He is fully God and fully Man.

Why did Jesus have to become the God-Man? It is so Jesus could become our great high priest! A priest represents people before God. Hebrews 2:17 reads, “Therefore, He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest ….” Jesus came to die! He came to pay for our sins! He died in our place!

Please do not miss what the author of Hebrews is saying. It was necessary for Jesus to be just like you and me except without sin so He could represent us before God. The only sacrifice acceptable to God the Father was His own Son, Jesus.

As we gather with family and friends to celebrate Christmas this week, let’s remember what we celebrate. Don’t let the meaning of Christmas get lost in the secular clutter around you. We must understand what our Lord did in becoming one of us.

Ethan Hansen is the pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.