Christmas, The Virgin Birth

Not, "Did you get What you wanted for Christmas, But, "Did you Learn something from Christmas?

Even before it had taken place, people struggled to accept the miracle of the Virgin Birth of Christ.   The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. . . .  Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:30-34, emphasis added)   We all know where babies come from. It's what twelve-year-old boys snicker about, fathers of teen girls worry about, and what makes it, when it is done right, such a wonderful concept. Women don't get pregnant without the involvement of a man. During Jesus earthly life, His enemies used this as an insult. You can see the sneer on the faces of the Pharisees when "They said to Him, 'We were not born of fornication'" (John 8:41). Down through the centuries, the sneering and ridicule have continued. It hasn't taken the Lord by surprise. Kathy and I received news that some friends of ours just had the first Baby born in 2018 in Wellington New Zealand. As I look at Oksana's picture, I am struck with the miracle of any birth. The same God Who sovereignly oversees his universe so that the meeting of ovum and sperm brings a new and unique life into existence is well capable of providing the genetic material needed for a new life, without the involvement of a man. Having said that, though, there is no getting around (and I'm not trying to get around it) the fact that God chose to bring His unique son into this world in a unique way. From the get-go it is clear that what we consider miraculous is just a day at the office for our great God. Part of the angel's reply to Mary was, "[N]othing will be impossible with God." Restoring a sin-cursed creation, bringing people dead in sin to life--everlasting life--in Christ, and calling out a people who will be God's special people are tasks that require supernatural power. God made known, even in the conception of His Son as a human, that the Trinity is up for the task. "A virgin will conceive." is not merely an arcane point of doctrine for Theologians to argue about in their towers of ivory. It is a reality that makes clear the fact that our Savior comes with supernatural power to accomplish that which is clearly beyond us. This Christmas I learned that God is able. It's STTA (Something To Think About).  If you'd like to read some stuff that a Theologian friend of mine wrote about the Virgin Birth, click here. By the way, I've been to Jim's house, and He's been a guest in my home on Guam. He doesn't even have an ivory tower, though he has been known to argue.