THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF THE KING

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit…” Matthew 1:18 ESV

“What do you say about the Christ? Whose son is he?” Jesus asked the Pharisees this very question. It needs to be asked today. Still people deny His deity as did the Pharisees. At best they believed he was of the royal lineage of David. Today the responses remain the same. Liberal theology has denied the deity and virgin birth of Christ.

Matthew answers this question in essence saying Christ is the Son of God. Matthew sets the record straight on Christ’s origin. He answers the critic’s statements, allowing no room for question that Christ was conceived of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit. To deny the account told by Matthew does two things; it accuses Matthew of being a liar, and it says that the Word of God is not the Word of God.

After Matthew establishes Christ’s human lineage, he then establishes His divine lineage. Not much is known about the Virgin Mary, but what we do know from scripture is that she was a righteous woman that submitted to God without question while praising Him at the same time. Less is known of Joseph, again from scripture we see that he was obedient to God, due to the fact that he remained with Mary during unpopular time. Joseph had great faith that Mary conceived through the Holy Spirit. It was because of the virgin birth and the conception by the Holy Spirit that Christ is deity, therefore he did not inherit Adam’s sin and remained sinless.

Joseph was faced with quit a dilemma. Joseph knew the regulations regarding a pregnancy out of wedlock. A godly man would say, “I can’t marry this woman in this condition.” Joseph had every right to make a public example out of Mary. He could have brought a charge of adultery before her. Joseph could have brought her before two or three witnesses and have the betrothal divorced, to be put away. Joseph had options. Joseph was faced with a colossal decision.

Fortunately for Joseph, an angelic visitation cleared all speculation for him. Not only did Joseph receive clarification of the conception of Jesus, but he received assurance of the Messiah who has come. Joseph received assurance of his salvation through the child whom his wife conceived.

The Promise of God is fulfilled through Christ’s birth. Jesus came as fulfillment of Isaiah prophecy in the Old Testament. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. “Men beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth.”

After Joseph awoke from his sleep he had all confidence in marrying Mary. He knew he had a divine appointment. What an honor do have been chosen to be the earthly father of the savior of the world. What a responsibility! Joseph had the privilege in naming Jesus, which means Yahweh is salvation.

“He (Jesus) assumed our human nature. Entered our sin polluted atmosphere. Took our guilt. Bore our grief. Carried our sorrows. Wounded for our transgressions. Bruised for our iniquities. He went to heaven to prepare a place for us. Sent His Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Makes intercession for us and one day will return to take us to be with Him. It all began with that marvelous miraculous birth!”