Jesus and His birth – born of a virgin?

As we approach this Christmas season, it is good to reflect on some of the wonders of this event. One of the more unlikely aspects of the Christmas event, for today’s mind, is the affirmation that Jesus was born of a virgin, in Mary, betrothed to Joseph.

What is the significance of this? How central is it to us?
Well, certainly, the Bible is unashamed about putting forward a record of events that requires us to believe what would be unlikely, if not impossible, through purely ‘natural’ forces. It might be elderly patriarchs having a child, parting the waters of an ocean, taking an ageing prophet to heaven in a chariot, or it may be any number of miracles recorded in the life of Jesus or the apostles.

In relation to the virgin birth of Jesus, it is referred to specifically in Matthew (1:18-25) and Luke (1:27, 34-35), but not clearly elsewhere. A number of things may be underscored by it:
– it marks out the specialness of the one being born, that in a unique way he is a child of heaven as well as a child of earth. Two of the false teachings battled by the church in early centuries included the idea that Jesus was only human and not divine, and conversely that Jesus was fully divine and only appeared to be human (ghost-like). The virginal conception and consequent birth points to Jesus as both fully human and yet also a special child of the Father. We have come to see those two aspects of Jesus’ identity – at the same time fully human and fully divine, as reflective of orthodox biblical faith.
– it does not indicate that Jesus is different from us, or sinless, as he is still receiving a human birth, with the human DNA from his mother.
– it affirms the path of normal child-bearing and birth, with all the implications and complications of life that can go with it.
– It points to the courage and faithfulness of Mary and Joseph in cooperating with God’s purposes at significant cost to their own lives.

I can understand people struggling to believe the virginal conception of Jesus. It is certainly depicted as exceptional and unique, yet it also affirms that God can do the seemingly impossible according to His plan and purpose. It is part of the miracle of Christmas.