Jump Start # 248

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

  This week we have been looking at passages about the birth of Jesus. The world pauses this time of year and tips it’s hat to a baby born in Bethlehem a long time ago. We recognize that the Bible does not tell us what day, month or year that Jesus was born. Because of Luke’s passage, “in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus…” (2:1) we know that Jesus was likely born between 6-4 B.C. We also recognize that the N.T. never authorizes an observance for the birth of Jesus, nor do we read of the early church doing anything for the birth of Jesus. The remembering of Jesus’ birth as a religious holiday came much later, after the Bible was written. It was established by man and not God.

  Since it seems everyone has the birth of Jesus on their minds, we thought we’d take a closer look at some passages that surround that event.

  Our verse today, Isaiah’s prophecy, was written 700 years before Jesus came to earth. Behold, a virgin will give birth. The New International Version misstates this verse. It says “a young maiden” will give birth, not A VIRGIN. There is a huge difference. An unwed teenage pregnancy isn’t headlines. It happens every day in America. Luke affirms that Mary was a virgin (1:27). Mary, questioned the angels announcement, by saying, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). The angel affirmed, “nothing will be impossible with God” (1:37). In Matthew’s gospel, Joseph’s actions indicate that he knew he wasn’t the father. He planned to send Mary away. The angel appeared to Joseph and told him. Matthew records, “but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son’ and he called His name Jesus” (Mt 1:25).

  Virgin birth—can’t happen naturally. Impossible. The coming of Jesus began with a miracle. After He died upon the cross, a miracle moved the stone and he rose from the grave.

  It’s hard to imagine what raced through Mary’s mind. Why me? Am I that special? What does God see in me? The gospels don’t record the months of Mary’s pregnancy. Not everyone knew what she knew. Many didn’t know about the angels. Were there whispers about her and Joseph? Did people look at her with disgust and shame? Often carrying the mission of God is not understood by others. Mary did it.

  We need to add, Mary was never placed upon a pedestal by the early church. She was never worshipped, and never considered the mother of God. She WAS the mother of Jesus, or the means in which Jesus came into the world, but not prayed to, bowed down to, and not worshipped. You won’t find that in the Bible. God used all kinds of righteous people to carry out His plans, Mary was just one of them.

  So, what do we make of the coming of Jesus? Unusual means—a virgin; but very humble, in a small village, in an animal trough. Not the setting we’d think for God coming to earth. But as we learn Jesus, so fitting for Him. The attention He wants is upon His words, His Father, and His sacrifice. We ought to be drawn to the loving Savior who left all, gave all, did all, so we could have a relationship with His Father and be forgiven of our sins.

  Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word…

Roger