We are so familiar with the Christmas story that we say, “virgin birth” or “immaculate conception” and we do not stop to think about the incredible miracle and it’s significance. Mary became pregnant with a child without consummating her marriage with Joseph until after Jesus' birth. Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus.
When Mary asked the angel Gabriel, "How will this be since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:34-35)
As a result of the virgin birth, Jesus Christ was simultaneously Mary's son and God's Son, human and divine. He was 100% God while at the same time 100% man. He was the God-man. Since Jesus did not have two human parents, he was not born in Adam. Meaning, Jesus was not born into original sin having a sinful nature. This enabled him to live a sinless, perfect life.
Jesus was not born spiritually dead like the rest of us. But through the miracle of the Virgin Birth, he was born without sin and spiritually alive. The Virgin Birth is essential to our faith. There are 4 basic beliefs about Jesus Christ:
1. Son of God
2. Live a perfect life
3. Died on the cross for our sins
4. He rose from the dead
These basic doctrinal beliefs about Jesus hinge on the Virgin Birth. The Virgin Birth makes it possible for Jesus to be the Son of God and live a perfect life. No other person in history can claim to be Christ because no other person had a Virgin Birth.
Sometimes, I think the Virgin Birth gets lost in the Christmas Story. We focus so much on the manger scene. What was is like? Were there 3 wise men or did they just bring 3 gifts? What did the manger look like? How soon after Jesus was born did the wise men show up? The real miracle of Christmas is not that Jesus was born in a barn but that he was born of a virgin.
Do you believe the miracle of the Virgin Birth? Our Christian faith depends on it.
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2 comments:
It is indeed the element we should focus on. To be honest, I'd be encouraged if the majority of the people could focus on the other factors you've cited as well, and not so much on the gifts, and the food, and the one-upsmanship that goes on with decoarations and material goods as well. But, that's just me. There's a reason the season isn't called "Giftmas."
Jonathan, there is just not enough space to attempt to confuse people in this comment. Virgin Birth - absolute miracle, and don't forget the miracle of Joseph just staying there and not running away.
Three gifts - not necessarily 3 wise men, which many believe was a few years later. Who wouldn't give a gift to a King, that was custom. But the gifts have unique meaning. I'm not sure I would give a gift to someone today that was going to remind someone of death.
And I think every year at Christmas we should give a gift to the King, now that would be appropriate.
Dale R
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