Conceived and Born
Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.
Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”
The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Luke 1:31-35 (CSB)
The birth of Jesus Christ affirms and reveals various truths about His nature. It discloses both the divine and human aspects of Christ, supporting the truth that Jesus is fully God and fully man. The nature of Christ's birth demonstrates and proclaims how Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God. Notice three truths concerning Jesus being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
A MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION
The conception of Christ was miraculous. The Bible states that Mary was visited by an angel who told her she would give birth to a son. This proclamation seemed impossible since she was a virgin. Nevertheless, the messenger revealed to her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, enabling her to conceive. This occurs as a miracle of the Lord. Only the Lord could bring about such an event. The miraculous conception not only showcases the work of the Lord but also confirms His fulfillment of
prophetic Word.
A NECESSARY BIRTH
The birth of Christ through the virgin was crucial. The Book of Romans affirms that all descendants of Adam, humanity, are afflicted by sin. In Psalm 58, the Psalmist states that humanity emerges from the womb speaking lies. This reality arises from our fallen nature. However, the virgin birth, resulting from conception by the Holy Spirit, removed the sinful nature that has been passed down through human generations. Thus, for Christ to be the necessary sacrificial Lamb of God, the virgin birth resulting from the Holy Spirit's conception was vital.
When we consider Christ's birth narrative, we must see that the story is not only informative but also rich in theological truth about who Christ is. We must understand the theological truth surrounding the incarnation and recognize its significance in the work of death, burial, and resurrection.
QUESTIONS
How do the virgin birth and the conception of the Holy Spirit affirm Jesus as the Lamb of God?
Why is the virgin birth and conception of the Holy Spirit necessary and linked to the work of Christ on the cross and the victory in the
resurrection?
