“Conceived By the Holy Spirit”
Luke 1:26-38
These days TVs are interested
to say something about Christmas. Well, they try with trees, gifts, or helping
others. Lately some of the stations broadcasted programs about the story of
Jesus, his birth and his parents. One of the hottest issues that came in these
programs was the virgin birth. How could that be? Is it possible for anything
like this to happen?
Another observation these
days is the music in public areas, like Walmart, or any shopping center. You hear
“Silent Night”, you hear “O Holy Night”, and other
carols. While paying to the cashier, you hear the words of Silent Night,
“Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother
and child…” At least 85% of the Americans can tell you that the mother of Jesus
is the Virgin Mary. What does is it mean? Do all believe in the birth of Jesus from
the Virgin Mary? I do not think so.
There are different theories
about this:
- Some believe that this is just
impossible. Unfortunately, some churches and theologians believe in this. For
them miracles cannot happen. They think this fabricated story comes from the early
days of Jesus. The early church believed in it and transferred it from
generation to generation.
- There are others who believe
in miracles, yet they have a problem in believing in the virgin birth. For
them, the word “virgin” has another meaning - a young girl. I cannot understand
how someone can believe that God can create the universe from nothing and can
raise Jesus from the dead but cannot have a virgin, or “young girl” conceive. By
the way, a young girl in the
-There is a group of people,
including myself, who believe that the virgin birth is possible and is
important. The virgin birth is not a separate event. It has biblical and
theological roots. We need to be careful how we approach this matter, this
mystery. Let me explain the biblical understanding of the importance of this
miracle.
The first point is this: We are talking about the
birth of God HIMSELF embodied in the human flesh.
This is not an ordinary
birth. We are not talking about the birth
of John the Baptist, who is very important, or to other prophets or men and
women of God. We are talking here about the birth of the King of kings and the
Lord of lords, God HIMSELF embodied in the human flesh.
Two weeks ago we read the following
passage:
“In the beginning was the
Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God.
He was with God in the beginning” (John
1:1-2).
Do you see what the author did
here? Jesus was not created in the beginning. He was there. Because
he was and is God.
Do you remember what he said
to the Pharisees? He was before Abraham. “I
tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "Before Abraham was born, I
am!" (John 8:58)
In Philippians 2, the Apostle Paul talks about the nature of Jesus. Before his earthly
birth he was with God, he was enjoying the glory of God, because he was with
God and he was God. “Who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” He humbled himself, he emptied himself, he gave up his glory to be like us. He became poor and was
born in a simple house and family. He came with a mission to save us, to bear
our cross, to die on the cross and to be resurrected from the death so we will
have everlasting life.
Do you see whose birth this is?
This is not an ordinary birth. We are talking about the birth of God HIMSELF in
the human body.
How does the Bible refer to
this event?
We will continue in English.