The Virgin Birth:
Why is it so important?
"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt 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: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:31-33 (Read v. 26-38)
In the Apostles' Creed, we confess to believe "in Jesus Christ [God's] only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary...." Many would question or challenge this teaching of Holy Scripture, but it is of utmost importance to us.
Who is this Jesus? His name means Jehovah saves, and that is who Jesus is -- Jehovah God Himself come into this world a true man, born of the virgin Mary that He might be not only true God, the Son of the Highest, but true man, son of David and heir of David's kingdom. Jesus is God Himself and, through the miraculous conception brought about by the Holy Spirit and His birth of the virgin Mary, He is also true man.
How could this be? Mary asked the same question and the angel answered: "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" (v. 35). The angel also explained further: "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (v. 37). What is impossible and unbelievable to us is indeed possible to the God who created all things and gave us life. And, as the Scriptures say, God gave His Son -- the eternal Word was made flesh and dwelt among us ... (John 3:16; 1:14).
Why is this so important to you and to me? The Scriptures answer that question for us when they say: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. 4:4-5).
It was necessary that Jesus be true man that He might take our place under God's law to fulfill it for us and die in our stead, and it was necessary for Jesus to be true God that His fulfillment of the law and His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross might be sufficient ransom for the sins of all mankind.
O Jesus, Son of God and son of man, we thank and praise You for taking on our nature in the virgin Mary that You might fulfill all righteousness for us and redeem us from sin and eternal death. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible. More devotions at www.goodshepherdrogers.org.]
Editorial on 12/24/2014