Why the virgin birth?

PCI Moderator, Dr Richard Murray, offers a reflection for Christmas.

Anyone wanting to understand the real message of Christmas has to understand what is meant by the virgin birth. That a young girl could become pregnant without the involvement of a man was something that seems unbelievable. That’s why, when the pregnancy was first announced to Mary, she asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34).

When Joseph heard of it, he also found it unbelievable for “Joseph being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19). This is exactly what we would expect at any talk of ‘a pregnant virgin’, yet soon the virgin birth became undeniable. I want to give you two reasons why C.S. Lewis was later to call the incarnation, “the Grand Miracle”.

Firstly, the virgin birth is about the invisible God becoming visible. It was an event where God the Son graciously took upon himself human flesh in order to reveal God to those who have eyes to see. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus had a human mother but he had no human father because God was his father.

Explaining how this happened is, of course, impossible. The Bible offers no explanation for curious human minds, rather it invites us to wonder and worship. Mary was told by the angel in Luke 1:35: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God.” In other words, the child born to Mary was unique.

And then as we study Jesus’ earthly ministry, we discover he displayed divinity in all manner of ways. In the gospels we find him forgiving sin, casting out demons, raising the dead, stilling the weather and receiving worship. In addition, Jesus made claims which, if not true, would be blasphemous – “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” and “I am in the Father and the Father in me” (John 14:9–11). God became visible in Jesus.

Secondly, if Jesus had been conceived naturally, he would have inherited original sin. Like us, he would have been sinful and in need of a Saviour. However, the virgin birth meant he was different to us and able to become our Saviour.

The evangelist Billy Graham once stood on an anthill, causing death and destruction to the little creatures. He told his sons that the only way to help the ants would be to become an ant and show them how to rebuild their lives. That’s a hint of what Jesus did when he became man. Not only did Jesus come to live the perfect sinless life but, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). The cross was where Jesus atoned for human sin, but it was also the place his humanity was again on display. On the cross Jesus experienced thirst and suffered pain. On the cross, when the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, blood and water flowed out. Eventually when he died, Jesus died a very public human death.

…if Jesus had been conceived naturally, he would have inherited original sin.

In summary, the virgin birth reminds us that the baby in Bethlehem had two distinct natures. This is ably summarised by the answer to Question 21 of the Shorter Catechism. “Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?” The answer is: “The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.”

This mysterious truth ought to reassure us of the love and goodness and grace of God. God was willing to reveal himself in One who so perfectly fulfills Isaiah 9:6: “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” In his life on earth, Jesus was all this and so much more.

The virgin birth should also be a great comfort to us. God knows what it is like to be a human being, though admittedly without our sin. He knows the power of temptation, the betrayal of friends, the pain of suffering, the loneliness of leadership, the misunderstanding of family, the loss of loved ones, the limitations of finance and the power of love. It’s no wonder the writer to the Hebrews says: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15–16).

And finally, the virgin birth demands a response from us. That the human race was in such dire straits that God had to become man and die on a cross is a humbling reminder of the seriousness of our sin. Yet by repenting of sin and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ we will discover that he is mighty to save and can rebuild our lives.

This Christmas, may we all praise God for the virgin birth, as in the words of Hark! the Herald Angels Sing: “Christ by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail, the Incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel.”