Christmas is a time of celebrating the miraculous birth of Jesus and all that this means to us. It’s easy to get caught up in the Christmas hype and the consumerism, but I want to encourage you to join me over the next few days as we reflect on the birth of Jesus and prepare our hearts to celebrate Jesus this Christmas.
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”Isaiah 7:14 NKJV
This prophecy from Isaiah foretold the virgin birth of Jesus 700 years before it happened. This verse is quoted in Matthew chapter 1 in the account of Jesus’ birth:
“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”Matthew 1:22-23 NKJV
This is supernatural: a virgin will conceive! This is not normal; virgins don’t usually get pregnant but it was an essential part of Jesus coming to save us.
“When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. His sin spread death throughout all the world, so everything began to grow old and die, for all sinned.”Romans 5:12 TLB
Through Adam, sin entered into the world and became part of every person’s inheritance. From Adam onwards, every person born would be born with a sinful nature, except for Jesus.
“Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of God shall overshadow you; so the baby born to you will be utterly holy—the Son of God.”Luke 1:34-35 TLB
God’s Holy Spirit placed Jesus inside Mary’s womb, and that meant that Jesus was born perfectly righteous and holy; He didn’t have Adam’s genes. It was essential that Jesus was born without a sinful nature so that He could save sinful man.
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”Matthew 1:21-23 NKJV