THE MYSTERY AND MIRACLE OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH.

We read in Matthew 1:18 that the life of the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived in the womb of Mary by the gracious Holy Spirit. Of course this was supernatural and a once-only conception from a sovereign God. God’s word simply states that ‘after His mother MARY was BETROTHED to Joseph, before they came together ( no sexual union had taken place ) , she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.’ God states truth, not apologising for His marvellous incarnation.( that is God in a body of flesh ).

Joseph was perplexed for ‘He was a just, righteous man, not wanting to make her a public example. He was minded to put her away secretly.’ . He would not expose Mary’s pregnancy openly, for all would misunderstand, resulting in ignominy, shame, rejection and stoning. Death. Mary was his beautiful, pure fiancee, and they had preserved their chastity for marriage. Joseph was baffled, but trusting.

Joseph could not put Mary and her pregnancy out of his mind, for as’ He thought about these things, God sent an angel from heaven in a dream’ to tell Joseph of the miracle of the virgin birth, saying. ‘ Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you MARY, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’ Joseph had never dreamed such before, as God chose this method to inform him, as Mary’s fiancee, of the miraculous conception in Mary’s womb.. All sleep had gone. Heaven had staggered him.

The physician Luke in chapter 1:35 wrote ‘ The Holy Spirit shall come upon you. and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you, so That Holy One .Who is .born of you will be called the.Son of God. ‘ This was a powerful, medical description of the incarnation (God in bodily form.),.

The angel continued his greeting, ‘ She shall bring forth a SON and you shall call His Name Jehoshua or JESUS.or Jehovah is our salvation. Joseph would have thought, ‘Oh, what a Name for Mary’s Babe!’ Then the angel told why, for ‘ HE SHALL SAVE. His people from their sins ( the amazing blueprint of the three members of the Godhead) ’ The cross demanded the sacrifice of His Manhood, His sustained, perfect character and sinless life, and His sin-bearing. God had schemed all this well.

All this was done that .It might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the LORD by the prophet”. ( v22 ) Joseph now knew the importance of the Old Testament Scriptures. Hundreds of such Scriptures were now realised.. Do we value these treasured prophecies rightly? .

The angel respected God’s Word as he quoted accurately from Isaiah 7:14, the great Bible truth, ‘Behold the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call His Name, EMMANUEL , which is translated ‘ God with us’’. .Many liberal scholars wilfully reject the miracle of the supernatural conception and virgin birth of God’s beloved Son. They reject God’s word at their eternal peril and judgment. However, our eternal salvation rested on the perfect sacrifice of the Son of the living God. He inherited no sin as the Son of God, while we have from our forebears, ‘David wrote that ‘he was brought forth in iniquity and in sin did his mother conceive him’. (Psalm 51:5 ).The first Adam introduced sin, while the second Adam redeemed us from it. Hallelujah!.

Let us observe the miracle that God was in the womb of Mary, so that the eternal God should be with us, the common people. As Christians we often readily forget the sheer marvel of the Presence of the ever-living God and His longing to fill our lives to the full. ’It pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell in HIM’. WE shall recapture that holy thrill this christmas as we meditate on the understandable, yet profound birth of our Lord. .

A greatly relieved Joseph took this beautiful girl, Mary, as his wife.

So would she relax. ‘Joseph was roused from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife.’ Joseph and Mary were each obedient to their Lord, an example that we urgently must follow.

Living in the same home and bed, they preserved their chastity until the birth of God’s Son. What a testing time for a young couple deeply in love, when the longing for sexual union must have often been overwhelming. ‘True Love must wait’ is a spiritual movement in the United States and Australia, where young lovers pledge to remain chaste in their courting, and reserve their sexual expression of that love to marriage.

They should receive stimulus from the example of Joseph and Mary. After a life time in medicine, many decried their loss of chastity until marriage. Something is lost that cannot be restored. However, our dear Lord forgives and cleanses those who did not wait; for He is a healing God. Keep chaste!

How beautifully Matthew records this,’ Joseph did not know her till she brought forth her first-born Son . And he called His name Jesus.’.

The word ‘know’ tells of the most intimate, personal relationship between two wedded lovers, expressed in holy sexual union. God is never embarrassed to speak of this pure intimate oneness, for He gave this beautiful gift to those who love Him and preserve His perfect law.

‘He called His name JESUS.’ This precious Name is loved in every language group. No name could define the ministry of the Christ-child more than Jesus. When we were deeply drenched in our sin , the name of Jesus brought release, forgiveness and lasting peace. When Rob soon faces his final days, no name will bring more sweet tranquillity than when I bend over his dying form and gently lisp the Name that is above every name, JESUS.

With a wan smile , Rob said, ‘Doc, I’ll see my Lord Jesus before you.’

That’s why Jesus God’s dear Son came.

Have a blessed and holy Remembrance of Him.

NAME OF CHRIST WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR, MIGHTY GOD,

EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. Isa 9:6

2:1 Jesus was born in BETHLEHEM. House of Bread. BREAD of God, from heaven.

Mic 5:2 “ Thou Bethlehem, least among the thousands of Judah

He shall come forth to Me out of You. Whose goings forth have been of old.

E.g. Moses at burning bush. Joshua Captain of our salvation. Daniel in lions’den. Gideon in Judges +++

Shadrach, Meshak, Abednego form like Son of God.

Mic 5:4 He shall stand and feed in strength of Lord. In majesty of Name of Lord.

Mat 2:1 Herod was wicked ruler. Wise men, MAGOI, came from East to Jerusalem.

2:2 Where is He Who is born King of Jews. WE have seen His star in East. We have come to worship Him.