Significance of the Signage
Several centuries before the birth of Christ, the
prophet Isaiah gave a signature prophecy to Israel, saying: “Behold,
a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name
Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew’s narrative confirms that sign:
“When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came
together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew
1:18).
Matthew includes what the angel told Joseph: “Joseph,
thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for
that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall
bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall
save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,
saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth
a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did
as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and
he called his name JESUS” (Matthew 1:20-25).
What scripture makes abundantly clear is that
Christmas is as much about the Virgin CONCEPTION as it is the Virgin
BIRTH! There are four historical events that trump ALL others: (1)
The DEATH of Jesus, whereby God provided atonement for the sins of
the whole world; (2) The RESURRECTION of Jesus, whereby God provided
validation for the substitutionary nature of his death; (3) The
BIRTH of Jesus, whereby God provided the body that would become the
sinless sacrifice for our sin, and (4) The CONCEPTION of Jesus in
the womb of a virgin named Mary, whereby God provided the Holy Ghost
seed that would make his prenatal development and his birth as the
God-Man possible.
Some Liberal theologians have argued that the virgin
birth is NOT fundamental to the Christian faith. Their case is one
based on physiology and reason. In terms of female physiology, once
a woman’s egg is fertilized (conception), the ovulation cycle shuts
down, making another conception impossible until she is postpartum.
Thus reason dictates that Mary and Joseph could have physically
consummated their relationship ANY time after the virgin conception
without tainting the sinless-divine nature of Jesus.
It sounds reasonable enough on a physiological basis,
and is hypothetically true. After all, the virgin conception is the
REAL sign. The problem is this. We as believers are bound to embrace
revelation over reason. What might pass muster in the arena of
reason can fail miserably in terms of revelation. What saith
revelation? “And KNEW HER NOT TILL she had brought forth her
firstborn son” (1:25). That one sentence serves as the death knell
for the Liberal argument!
Other theologians of the ranker sort deny both the
virgin conception and subsequent virgin birth. They argue that Jesus
was conceived and born via natural processes but was endowed with a
divine nature at some point after his birth…perhaps at his baptism.
Space does not allow us to discuss all of the mental gymnastics
employed by Liberals to gainsay the truth. Again, revelation makes
the case with crystal clarity: “BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER, she was
found with child of the Holy Ghost” (1:18). That’s ALL the
confirmation we need to validate the signage fulfillment of Isaiah
7:14.
Jesus was Virgin
Conceived AND Virgin Born. Our redemption requires that both are
true; revelation affirms that they are! As you and I celebrate on
this day the birth of our King, let us also give thanks for the SIGN
of the Virgin CONCEPTION, without which NONE of the other events, by
which Jesus is able to save us sinners from our sins, would have
been possible! Thank you, Lord, for the signage!
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