The Birth of Jesus

“Thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.” —Luke 1:31

THE celebration of the birth of Jesus on December 25th did not become widespread among Christians until the fourth century. Although not actually the date of his birth, this day may have been selected because it nearly coincides with the winter solstice, a time of rejoicing among many ancient cultures. And it was about the same time, also, that the angel, Gabriel, appeared to Mary in Nazareth with the message that she would be the one who would bring forth Israel’s promised Messiah, the one who would receive “the throne of his father David.”—Luke 1:32

For thousands of years faithful men of old had been looking for the time when Messiah would appear. Daniel prophesied that “from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and threescore and two [sixty-two] weeks.” (Dan. 9:25) Because prophetic days often equal literal years, many probably interpreted Daniel’s sixty-nine prophetic weeks as a period of 7 X 69, or 483 literal years. That would explain why, just prior to Jesus’ ministry, “the people were in expectation” and men “mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not.”—Luke 3:15

When Gabriel made his announcement to Mary, she was engaged to be married to Joseph. It was the custom among the Jews of teat time to make the period of engagement a year long. Any unfaithfulness during this time was considered adultery even though the actual marriage had not yet occurred. Although we usually see only the benefits to Mary when she was told by an angel that her child would be called “the Son of God” (Luke 1:35), think how her husband-to-be would consider it.

Mary “was found to be with child” (Matt. 1:18) through the power of the Holy Spirit of God. Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”—Matt. 1:18-20, New International Version

The verses in Matthew and Luke clearly state that the conception of Jesus was a miracle. The life of the one called the Word (Greek: Logos), in John 1:1, was transferred by God to the womb of Mary. This was required to produce a perfect man to ransom mankind, since all the descendants of Adam were under condemnation, and none could give a ransom for his brother.—Ps. 49:7

Yet in spite of this clear presentation of the Scriptures, some Biblical expositors suggest that the conception of Jesus was no different than the origination of any other child. But were we to nullify the doctrine of the virgin birth of Jesus, we would of necessity have to nullify God’s plan of salvation as taught in the Scriptures, as well as many direct statements made by Jesus himself.

…do the Scriptures teach the ‘virgin birth’?…

Look at just some of the evidences supporting the virgin birth:

From the Old Testament prophecy: “The Lord himself shall give you a sign, Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”—Isa. 7:14
Jesus said: “Verily, verily I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58) “Glorify thou me … with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John 17:5) “I came down from heaven not to do mine own will.”—John 6:38
Some words of the Apostle Paul on the subject include: “Let this disposition be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, though being in God’s form, yet did not meditate a usurpation to be like God, but divested himself, taking a bondman’s form, having been made in the likeness of men.”—Phil. 2:5-7, Diaglott

None of these direct statements of Scripture could apply to Jesus if he were merely the son of Joseph. For Jesus to give his perfect life as a ransom for the forfeited, perfect life of father Adam, it was absolutely necessary that he be perfect. Such could only be the case if his father were perfect. Joseph may have been a “righteous man,” but he was not perfect. It was the power of God that transferred the life of his only begotten Son from spirit nature to the human genes in Mary’s womb. This produced a ‘man child’ who was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.”—Heb. 7:26

Bethlehem Experiences

“It came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” (Luke 2:1) Israel was under subjection to the Roman Empire. To comply with this decree of taxation Joseph and Mary had to leave their home in Nazareth, and travel to Bethlehem—a small village some five miles south of Jerusalem because Joseph was of the line of David and Bethlehem was the City of David. (See I Samuel 20:6.)

Jerusalem and the surrounding villages were teaming with visitors who, like Joseph and Mary, were there because of the taxation decree. So it is not surprising to read that there was no room for this expectant mother and her husband in the inn. When the time came for Jesus to be born, the Son of God was not ushered into this world in the best of circumstances, but in the most humble. Mary brought forth her firstborn child, and laid him in a manger.

Mary and Joseph were poor. We know this because Mary offered two turtledoves at the end of her days of purification, the offering of one who could not afford a lamb of the first year. (See Leviticus 12:8, and Luke 2:24.) The gold, frankincense, and myrrh brought by the wise men from the East provided funds which supported this family, especially during their flight into Egypt, and until the death of Herod. (See Matthew 2:11-15.)

The birth of Jesus into a poor family in humble circumstances can be appreciated by those who have the Spirit of God. They see the beauty in such an arrangement. Our Lord did not come to taste the best the world had to offer. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. At the peak of his ministry he observed, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”—Matt. 8:20

“There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, so, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”—Luke 2:8-11

The angel of the Lord did not appear to the leaders of Israel, religious or secular; he came, rather, to humble shepherds. Of course they were afraid. Nothing could be so extraordinary or overawing than the sight of an angelic being! But the angel calmed them with a remarkable message, one that continues to warm the hearts of mankind to this day. “Good tidings” comes from the same Greek word rendered “Gospel,” in Matthew 11:5, where it states, “The poor have the Gospel preached to them.” (Matt. 11:5) Surely the Gospel message is one of great joy.

…the angels did not appear to the leaders of Jesus’ day, neither secular nor religious…

This joy comes because the Savior, Jehovah’s Anointed, had arrived on the human scene. He was the long-awaited Messiah, the one who was the only hope of Israel and the world. The realization of God’s plan to bless the whole world of mankind began to be carried out in a tangible way with the birth of Jesus. At this time he was only an infant, unable to carry out any sacrificial work, until he reached the age of thirty—maturity as a Jewish man. Then he would live a sacrificial life for three-and-one-half years, finally dying on a cross. After lying in the grave for parts of three days, he was raised by his Heavenly Father to a, new life.

The Bride of Christ

Since the time of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus to his new position in the heavenly realm, God has been taking out of the world a “people for his name.” Sometimes they are called ‘the church’, sometimes ‘the bride of Christ’, as well as other equally descriptive terms. These are the ones who are willing to suffer with Christ, and who will be raised to the same likeness as he has been given, to a position where, eventually, they will reign with him in his kingdom. They will have the privilege of opening wide the door to life and everlasting happiness to all mankind during that coming kingdom.

Those who have heard God’s call and accepted the invitation to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, have been begotten by the Holy Spirit, as was their Master. They are authorized to proclaim the same message brought by the angel of the Lord to the shepherds: “Fear not, for behold, [we] bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born … a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10,11) The church can rejoice with unspeakable joy as it proclaims this message even in the midst of trials, difficulties, and weaknesses of the flesh! By the eye of faith, we can look forward to the coming kingdom when the prophecy to the shepherds by the angel and the heavenly host will indeed become a reality.

The heavenly host praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:14) Isaiah prophesied that the savior would be the “Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6) There is no peace on earth as yet. But soon the Prince of Peace will establish his kingdom. Then “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” True peace shall reign, “from sea to sea, and from the river, unto the ends of the earth.”—Isa. 2:4; Ps. 72:8

The miracles performed by Jesus during his brief three-and-a-half-year ministry were only a foretaste of what the kingdom will be like. The whole world is sick, blind, deaf, and lame. Satan, the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who believe not. But in the kingdom, the Savior will heal the world, not just rid them of physical blindness, deafness, and lameness, but will free them from spiritual sicknesses of all kinds. Spiritual blindness today is caused by ignorance and superstition. But then, “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab. 2:14) “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”—Rev. 21:4

Surely these are indeed good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people! And this work of blessing will extend throughout the thousand years of Christ’s kingdom when—at the close of that time—the prophecy of the angelic hosts will be fulfilled. Then all God’s creatures, both in heaven and in earth, will offer praise and glory to the one who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever!—Rev. 5:11-14

Instead of singling out just one particular day a year, we should remember on every day this great Savior whose birth, whose death, and whose resurrection from the dead, means so much to all mankind. No words can ever proclaim or express greater blessings to come than those which were spoken by the angel at the birth of Jesus:

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

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