Why Christians Believe in the Virgin Birth

Our Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence for the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

The Claim is Made

Two thousand years ago, a virgin named Mary gave birth to a baby boy. This is the claim that has been made by the Christian church since the first century.

Mary herself, the virgin mother, made this claim when she reported the visiting angel’s message that God, the Holy Spirit, would “come upon” her and that the “power of the Most High would overshadow her, so that the Holy One to be born (of her) would be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35. NIV.

Joseph, the man to whom Mary was pledged to be married, also made this claim. He conveyed the message given to him by an angel in a dream that the baby “conceived in her (Mary) is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20. NIV.

Luke, the writer of the Gospel of Luke, made this claim when he described the words spoken by the angel who visited Mary.

Matthew made this claim when he recorded the angel’s words in Joseph’s dream.

Jesus made this claim by inference when he said that he “always does what pleases” his Father in heaven. John 8:29. NIV. Then he reinforced this claim when he asked: “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” John 8:46. NIV.

But who can say that? Who can say that he always does what is right unless he has a sin-free nature? And how could he have a sin-free nature if he had a natural birth conceived by the union of a sinful man and woman? The only way he could be truly holy is if he was born by the power of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, he would be a sinner like the rest of mankind.

The New Testament presents the virgin birth in two passages, one in Matthew and the other in Luke.

The Matthew Account: “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means ‘God with us.’

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” Matthew 1:18-25. NIV.

The Luke Account: “In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’

“‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered. ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. For nothing is impossible with God.'” Luke 1:26-35,37. NIV.

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:38. NIV.

What These Accounts Tell Us

The Matthews account describes the experience of Joseph while the Luke account describes the experience of Mary. Together they provide a remarkable picture of what God was doing when he brought Jesus Christ into the world. From these accounts we learn that:

1. Joseph and Mary were pledged to be married but they had not had conjugal relations before Mary became pregnant. At this time in history, “There were no sexual relations during a Jewish betrothal period, but it was a much more binding relationship than a modern engagement and could be broken only by divorce.” ¹1. NIV note for Matthew 1:18, p 1441.

Furthermore, in First Century Jewish society no one had sexual relations outside of marriage. It simply was not done! This moral standard was high, known, respected, and obeyed by everyone. ²2. Personal conversation with a Harvard professor of first century Jewish culture.

2. Joseph was a righteous man. He was devoted to God and was careful to keep the law of Moses.
3. Mary was a godly woman. She is twice told that she is favored by God, and told that God is with her. God favors those who love, trust, and obey him, that is, those who are godly.
4. Mary was a virgin.
5. Mary became pregnant because the Spirit of God conceived a child in her womb.
6. Joseph was thinking about voiding the marriage agreement with Mary because he thought her pregnancy was due to adultery. Yet, he intended to be kind to her and not embarrass her publicly.
7. Joseph changed his mind about divorce when he learned Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and not by natural means.
8. An angel from God came to Mary to tell her the news.
9. An angel appeared in Joseph’s dream to inform him.
10. Both Joseph and Mary responded to the news about Jesus Christ’s birth with faith. Joseph showed that he believed when he obeyed the angel’s instructions and took Mary to be his wife.

Mary showed her faith when she declared her obedient attitude saying, “I am the Lord’s servant,” and when she responded, “May it be to me as you have said.” She not only believed that God would perform a miraculous conception in her womb, she also willingly gave herself to God to be the woman chosen for this purpose. In so doing, she displayed marvelous faith, instant obedience, and amazing courage upon hearing the angel’s message.

Having reviewed the passages that tell us about the virgin birth, we must ask the question, “Why should we believe that these passages are true?” There are a number of reasons which we will discuss below.

Historical Analysis of New Testament Documents

Just how do you establish the trustworthiness of documents which were written 2,000 years ago? To establish the veracity of ancient texts, historians analyze historical records employing reasonable criteria which help determine the accuracy of these records.

The Criteria: Here are criteria which historians use to determine if documents are historically accurate:

1. Are the historical documents written by eyewitnesses?
2. Are there a substantial number of eyewitnesses whose writings agree with each other?
3. Are the witnesses of varied background, personality, education and experience and yet agree?
4. Are the eyewitnesses thought to be truthful?
5. Are some of the details in the writings embarrassing to the authors? And did they leave them in because they were intent on reporting the events accurately and not screening them out to save face?
6. Are there people who witnessed the same events still alive when the report comes out, so they could confirm, deny or correct the report?
7. Is there a relatively short time period between when the events occurred and when the documents were written?
8. Have the historical documents been protected over time and are essentially the same as when written, or have they been corrupted or changed?
9. Are historical details in the reports verified by archaeological finds and by other independent sources, in this case by secular writers, some of whom were enemies of Christianity?

The New Testament Satisfies All of These Criteria: The New Testament story of Jesus Christ’s life was written by a substantial number of witnesses of varied backgrounds and personalities whose writings agree with each other. These disciples cited historical facts verified by other sources, suffered and died for their faith, wrote embarrassing details about their lives, and wrote simply and directly as truth tellers. They wrote within a few years of the events they recorded while others who witnessed the same events were still alive. Document analysis shows that the New Testament documents have been preserved and are essentially the same as when first written. Moreover, archaeology and numerous secular sources confirm the basic story of Jesus Christ in the Gospels.

Thus, we can say that it is reasonable to believe that the New Testament documents were written by truth-tellers who carefully and accurately wrote about what they learned and experienced when they were with Jesus Christ for three years as his disciples. Matthew qualifies as a reliable witness because he was with Jesus during his ministry, whereas Luke qualifies as a reliable source because he carefully researched the story of Jesus life and ministry by interviewing those who were with Him during his ministry. This being so, we conclude that the passages describing the virgin birth, which are part of the New Testament, are true and accurate descriptions of what actually happened.

The Bible is the Word of God

In an article on this web site, “Why Christians Believe the Bible,” we provide evidence that the Bible is not only historically accurate, but that it is also truly the Word of the Living God. Here, we will cover only the salient points from that article.

First, the Bible has been so well preserved from antiquity in the original languages that we can be confident the Bible we have today is essentially the same as when written. This applies to both the Old and New Testaments. This means that when we read the Bible in English, we are able to read extremely accurate translations of the very words God inspired.

Second, modern historical analysis indicates the New Testament stories of Jesus are actually true.

Third, the disciples who wrote about Jesus Christ were credible eye witnesses. They wrote simply and factually reporting what they saw, heard, and experienced. They wrote embarrassing details about themselves, indicating their desire was to be truthful. They held themselves to the highest moral standards, also indicating that they told the truth. They wrote within a few years of the events they recorded, suggesting accurate reporting. They died for their beliefs, showing they had become convinced by evidence that their beliefs were true.

Fourth, numerous prophecies in the Bible, some dating back over 1,000 years, were fulfilled exactly as predicted, showing the Bible to be of Divine origin. Who but God can know so far in advance what is going to happen and predict it with amazing accuracy? Incredibly, there are over 300 prophecies from the Old Testament which are fulfilled in the Person and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Fifth, New Testament documents come from a number of independent sources which agree with each other. These include Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, James the brother of Jesus, Peter, and the writer of Hebrews. Each of these writers approached essentially the same subject matter somewhat differently, yet all agreed on the truth of God in content and message. Such agreement supports the belief that each writer was reporting actual historical events, in a truthful manner.

Sixth, Secular historians in the first century confirm the basic story of Jesus in the Gospels.

Seventh, Archaeological findings show the Bible to be accurate with regard to historical places, events, customs, and language.

Eighth, The Bible exhibits features that indicate Divine Authorship! The Preservation of the Bible over centuries; the Unity of its message with about 40 authors, written over a period of 1,600 years; hundreds of fulfilled Prophecies; the highest standard of Morality in the world; and its documented Miracles all indicate that the Bible is God’s Word and God’s Truth for all ages.

All of the Above Applies to the Biblical Texts Describing the Virgin Birth

These are our reasons for believing that the Bible is factual, historically accurate, trustworthy, and the Word of God. Therefore, we believe we are on safe ground when we say that the New Testament story of Jesus’ birth is absolutely true. While we believe such evidence supports this assertion, there is also more specific evidence for the virgin birth of Jesus Christ which we will now discuss.

Luke Was a Master Historian

Introduction to the Gospel of Luke: Luke begins his gospel with these words: “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1-4. NIV.

Here, Luke tells us of his endeavor – to write an account of the life of Jesus, of his sources – those who were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, of his method – careful investigation, of his style – writing an orderly account, of his (initial) recipient of the message – Theophilus, and of his purpose – that he might convey the certainty (that is, the absolute truth) of the things described.

Luke’s Identity: “Luke was probably a Gentile by birth, well educated in the Greek language and culture, a physician by profession, and a companion of Paul. Luke’s gospel was directed to Theophilus, whose name means ‘one who loves God.'” ³3. NIV note in Introduction to the Gospel of Luke, p1533. Theophilus may have been a roman official or possibly Luke’s patron who was responsible for copying and distributing Luke’s writings. ⁴4. NIV note in Introduction to the Gospel of Luke, p1533. It is clear that Luke’s gospel was intended not only for Theophilus, but also for the churches and for both Jewish and Gentile believers.

Luke’s Accurate Writing: Luke also wrote the book of Acts, in which he tells about what Jesus continued to do through his apostles and disciples after his ascension. In Acts we see incredible care for detail when he describes the activities of the early church and the culture in which it grew. “Classical scholar and historian Colin Hemer chronicles Luke’s accuracy in the book of Acts verse by verse. With painstaking detail, Hemer identifies 84 facts in the last 16 chapters of Acts that have been confirmed by historical and archaeological research.” ⁵5. Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books. 2004, p 256. Here Luke shows “an incredible array of knowledge of local places, names, environmental conditions, customs, and circumstances” ⁶6. Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004, p 256. which could only be known by a contemporary eyewitness. And he got them all right!

This kind of precision and accuracy is also found in the gospel of Luke. In chapter 3:1-2. NIV. We read: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar – when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene – during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zachariah in the desert.” In just two verses we have mention of five political figures, two Jewish high priests, and John the Baptist and his father, all of which are verifiable historical figures. This is the way Luke wrote. He was careful to provide accurate, detailed descriptions of everything he wrote about.

Our Conclusion: If Luke exercised such care to record historical details accurately, details, which are verified by secular writers and archeology, it is reasonable to expect that he would exercise the same care and accuracy when he wrote about the birth, life, teaching, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Thus, we conclude that the information he provides about Jesus Christ is also true and reliable including the information about the virgin birth.

When Luke said he had “carefully investigated everything from the beginning,” he indicated that he had done thorough research on the birth of Jesus as well as on the rest of his life. Being a medical doctor, we suppose he was able to interview Mary, the mother of Jesus, providing a comfort level for her in telling him the intimate story of Jesus’ conception, which she would not have told to any other man outside of her family.

If the details of Jesus Christ’s life are accurate in Luke, this means they are also accurate in Matthew, Mark, and John because they all wrote about the same things and are in agreement about them. Thus, Luke’s gospel helps us to understand that all the gospels provide accurate information about Jesus.

Matthew Validates the Virgin Birth with Fulfilled Prophecy

Prophecies Reveal Divine Inspiration: Prophecies made in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament speak convincingly, telling us that the Bible was inspired by God and is therefore his Word. As noted, there are over 300 prophetic passages, some made over 1,000 years before Christ, which describe, in detail, His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Again, we remind the reader: Who can know the future 400, 700, 1,000 years ahead of time in perfect detail except Almighty God? Such prophecies reveal not only that the Bible is the word of God, but also that God exists, that he is real, and that he is speaking to us.

The significant thing about prophetic evidence is that it is objective. You read a passage in the Old Testament written three thousand years ago; then you read a passage in the New Testament written two thousand years ago, and find that the second passage fulfills the promise of the first. Then, how do you explain the correspondence? God’s inspiration is the only explanation that fits. Men can’t do that. Such evidence is not based on personal opinion, emotion, or public custom. This kind of evidence stands outside of each one of us for anyone to consider on its own merits. And because of that, it is perhaps the strongest body of evidence for the inspiration of Scripture.

Jesus Emphasized Prophecy: Jesus stressed the importance of fulfilled prophecy with his disciples. When he walked on the road to Emmaus with two disciples after his resurrection, he said to them: “Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. “Luke 24:26,27. NIV. Later, when he met with his disciples, he said: “This is what I told you when I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:44,45. NIV.

Jesus understood the power and persuasiveness of fulfilled prophecy to help people, whose hearts and minds were open to God, to believe the truth of Scripture and receive His teachings. He taught his disciples Messianic prophecies to solidify their faith as well as to enable them to teach these prophecies to others. Peter did this, using prophecy in his sermon, right after Pentecost when he preached the resurrection of Christ to the Jews in Jerusalem, and the apostles continued to do this in their witness afterward.

Matthew’s Use of Scripture: Matthew quoted the Old Testament Scriptures extensively in his Gospel. He did so “to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus was their Messiah…by showing how Jesus in his life and ministry fulfilled (specific) Old Testament prophecies.” ⁷7. NIV note in introduction to the Gospel of Matthew. p 1439. “There are at least 47 quotations, most of them Messianic, that Matthew takes from the Old Testament.” ⁸8. NIV note for Matthew 1:23. p 1442.

Here is a sampling of these passages: The Messiah will be born of a virgin and will be called Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’ (1:20,21); he will born in Bethlehem (2:6); he will be called out of Egypt (2:15); he will be called a Nazarene (2:23); he will live in Galilee (4:15); he will speak in parables (13:35); he will ride on a donkey as a king entering Jerusalem (21:4,5); he will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (27:9.10); and lots will be cast for his clothes when he is crucified (27:35).

When Old Testament prophecies are linked with Jesus’ life, they not only highlight the miraculous inspiration of Scripture, they also reveal that God was orchestrating the life of Jesus through His obedience to the Father. This then strengthens the belief that the events in Jesus’ life actually happened, because they occurred as predicted over and over again.

This also means that the events in Jesus’ life did not happen in an isolated fashion. They were not disconnected from the past and they were not irrelevant to the future. They were a part of God’s eternal plan to redeem a sinful mankind. This places the life of Jesus in the context of eternity, not just in the temporal context of a 33 year life span from about 4 BC to 30 AD.

Prophecies About the Birth and Early Life of Jesus: Mathew quotes various prophecies which apply to the birth and early life of Jesus. The first is: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14. NIV. The second: “But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2. NIV. The third: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Hosea 11:1. NIV. The fourth: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.” Jeremiah 31:15. NIV.

And the last: “He will be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:23. NIV. While there is no specific quote in the Old Testament which uses these exact words, Numbers chapter 6 describes a Nazirite as one who has taken a vow to be wholly separated unto God. The Jews would certainly have expected the Messiah to fulfill this vow and we see it fulfilled in the life of Jesus.

So, there is a fit. However, Matthew suggests a connection of the term Nazirite with the place Nazareth. We believe that in the mind of the Jews, to whom Matthew wrote, the connection was obvious, even though we today may not know exactly how they were related. We speculate that perhaps the establishment of the town of Nazareth in antiquity was somehow connected to the vow of a Nazirite.

Here we have prophecies that Jesus will be born of a virgin, that he will be Deity – “God with us,” that he will be born in Bethlehem, that he will come from the tribe of Judah, that he will become ruler in Israel, that he will come from eternity past, that there will be mourning in Ramah (when Herod killed all male children under the age of two years in an attempt to kill Jesus), that he will be called out of Egypt (when God told Joseph to bring Jesus and Mary back to Israel after the death of Herod), and that he will live in Nazareth. All of these were fulfilled by the life of Jesus Christ (except the one that said he will become Ruler of Israel; this one will happen when he returns).

As indicated above, these prophecies help validate the actual events in Jesus’ life by reliably telling us what happened hundreds of years in advance. We contend that they help make a strong case for the actual fulfillment of all of these prophecies, and particularly for the virgin birth.

Having considered evidence which indicates the New Testament reports of Matthew and Luke are reliable and true, we are now in a position to appreciate the importance of what these writers actually said. And, what they said about the moral character of Joseph and Mary is integral to the story of the virgin birth.

The Moral Character of Joseph

Joseph – A Righteous Man: Joseph is described as a righteous man, as one who is disciplined in his thinking and behavior to do what is right and one who faithfully observes the Mosaic Law.

After Joseph and Mary were pledged to be married, Joseph became aware that Mary was pregnant. At this point he had a choice; how would he react to this situation? He could have responded with anger and vengeance; he could have decided to expose her, make her apparent infidelity public, disgrace her and even potentially subject her to death by stoning. But he didn’t! Instead, he responded the way a righteous man would have responded.

He decided not to embarrass her, disgrace her, or subject her to punishment. Why? Because he was a righteous man who showed compassion and kindness to the person he loved, even though he thought she had betrayed his trust. Here he showed good moral character and fulfilled the Mosaic command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18. NIV.

At the same time, Joseph was not going to marry Mary for the same reason, because he was a righteous man. He was unwilling to disobey the Law of Moses regarding adultery even though he loved Mary. His righteous character prohibited him from violating God’s Law on the one hand, and motivated him to show forgiveness and compassion on the other hand. Both responses showed that he loved God above all and had submitted himself to do his will.

What Changed His Mind? Upon discovering Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph was determined to divorce her. He was thinking over how he might do this. But he did not divorce her. What changed his mind? Obviously, the message from the angel in a dream changed his mind. The angel told him that Mary was not pregnant by a man, but by the Holy Spirit; that this was in God’s plan, that the baby would be a boy and his name would be Jesus for he would save his people from their sins; that his birth would be the fulfillment of prophecy; and that he would be Immanuel, God Incarnate. This is new information to him, information he didn’t have. And somehow, he understood fully that it was an angel of God who spoke to him and that what he heard was true. He was sure of it!

He was a righteous man who kept the Law. He would not have married a pregnant woman. He wouldn’t have done this unless he was fully persuaded that God had intervened and that this was God’s plan. The angel gave a clear message; and Joseph was predisposed to obey and did obey once he knew the message was from God. This is how a righteous man behaves. He does what is right. He obeys God.

Joseph’s Words and His Marriage to Mary Confirm the Virgin Birth: Our point here is that such a righteous man would not falsify his report about the virgin birth. Also, if he had not believed it to be true, he would never have married Mary. What he said, he undoubtedly believed to be true, and we believe he was right. His marriage to Mary confirmed his absolute confidence that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb.

The Moral Character of Mary

Mary – A Virtuous Woman: For reasons given above, we accept the account of the angel’s visit to Mary, as recorded by Luke, to be accurate and true. In it, Mary is presented as a godly woman, chosen by God, to be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. From it we can come to appreciate Mary’s virtue and strength. Here, we discover how this account reveals Mary’s exceptional moral character.

God Chose Her: First of all, God chose her! For the purpose of birthing the Son of God, the type of woman God would choose would have to be a woman of great virtue. Her role required a moral person of faith who was obedient to the Mosaic Law; a person who was loving, kind, and compassionate; and a person who possessed inner personal strength. The mother of Jesus Christ would have to be faithful to her husband, a good mother for her son Jesus, a diligent worker who could carry the responsibilities of life, and a strong person who could deal with life’s challenges – especially those which came to her because of Jesus’ ministry, life, death, and resurrection.

God knew everything about Mary: her thoughts, dreams, hopes, values, motives, habits, faith, behavior, love for Him and love for family. Being God, he knew it all and he decided she was perfect for the job!

The Angel’s Word: The angel declares that Mary is a moral woman. He tells her twice that she is favored by God and tells her that God is with her. Who does God favor? He favors those who are devoted to Him, who follow and obey him, who live moral lives because their heart is pure. The Scriptures affirm this over and over.

Mary’s Response to the Angel’s Message: How does Mary respond? She has just been told that God will do a miracle in her womb and create a baby boy without a sexual relationship with a man. This has never happened in the history of the world. Even Abraham’s wife, Sarah, laughed, in disbelief, when she, as an old woman past childbearing age, was told that she would bear a son by natural means. Sarah could not believe it at first. (Genesis 18:10-15)

But here, Mary instantly accepts this message and believes that it will happen. She only asks “How” it will happen, not whether it will happen. She understood the biology of pregnancy. What she didn’t know is how God would do it. This demonstrates great faith in God and complete obedience to the message she received.

It’s easy to see how obedience to God is connected to morality. Mary was obedient to God and was therefore moral. But faith and morality are also connected. Mary’s faith was in God who is moral. When someone places faith in God, he is trusting in the God who embodies morality, who has revealed his moral standards in his moral law, and who expects everyone to keep these standards. Faith in a moral God means that God’s moral standards apply to the person who believes. Thus, one becomes accountable to God and responsible toward him. Mary’s faith in this God, the True and Living Moral God, implys that she is in agreement with his moral nature and standards. Her faith then is another indicator that she is a moral woman.

Toward the end of the angel’s visit with Mary, he reminds her, “For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responds, “I am the Lord’s servant.’ (Obedience), “May it be to me as you have said.” (Unquestioning faith). Luke 1:37,38. NIV. She was truly a moral woman of faith and obedience.

The Magnificat: Mary’s song of praise, the Magnificat, speaks powerfully about her moral character. In it she worships God; she rejoices in Him; she calls God her Savior indicating that she is aware of her sins and has received forgiveness; she is grateful for God’s mindfulness of her humble position as well as for his favor in her life; she exclaims that he shows mercy to those who fear (trust and obey) him; she exults in his mighty deeds, that he displays justice when he brings down wicked rulers and lifts up the righteous common people; and she revels in God’s promised mercy to Abraham and his descendants.

Here, Mary is celebrating the God she loves. He exalts him, worships him, hold him up as Creator, Savior, and Beneficent Shepherd. She is filled with joy! She has been forgiven and she loves him! She has been blessed exceedingly by him and she adores him! She sees his kindness and justice toward others. She rejoices in his promise of mercy to Abraham.

This response builds on faith, but goes beyond mere faith. Mary is caught up in loving and joyful worship of the God she loves and to whom she has given her life. This reflects true morality, the alignment of the soul with the heart of God who is moral, trustworthy, all powerful, and all loving – in an expression of joy and love and celebration. This is a proper response to the True God. To make such a response, it takes a person who has, out of respect and reverence for God, made a decision at the core of their being to be a moral person, to be like God wants them to be because they know he loves them and they love him. Mary was such a person and her worship reflects her morality.

Conclusion: We have seen that Mary was a person of exceptional moral character, a woman of true virtue. This is why we believe she would never allow herself to have had sexual relations outside of marriage. Also, we believe she would have been absolutely truthful about the visit of the angel and his message. Thus, we conclude that Mary was a virgin when she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit and the baby conceived in her womb was a miracle from God, and not a natural pregnancy.

Having seen that Luke was a diligent researcher and a careful reporter of historical events, we affirm that it is reasonable to believe that his accounts of Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth are true and accurate. And once we understand that they are true and accurate, we can then see in them, the amazing hand of God preparing the way for his Son, Jesus Christ, to enter the world.

The Angel’s Visit to Zechariah

Zechariah was a priest in Jerusalem, who along with his wife, Elizabeth, were descended from Aaron, the first high priest who served with Moses. Both were described as upright, blameless, and obedient to God. Zechariah was chosen by the casting of lots to be the priest who was to enter the temple in Jerusalem to tend to the burning of incense twice daily for a specified number of days.

While inside the temple, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him that he and his wife would have a son in their old age, who’s name would be John. The angel described John as “a joy and delight,” “great in the sight of the Lord,” and “filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.” Moreover, John is to “bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God,” operate “in the spirit and power of Elijah,” turn the hearts of the disobedient to accept the wisdom of the righteous, and make ready a people for the Lord (Jesus Christ), thus fulfilling the Isaiah 40:3 prophecy about the ministry of John the Baptist. Luke 1:11-17. NIV.

Unfortunately, Zechariah responded to the angel’s message with doubt because of his and his wife’s advanced age. The angel admonished: “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and have been sent (by God himself) to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” Luke 1:19. NIV. Then, the angel took away his ability to speak, so when he come out of the temple, he made hand signs to the people and who thought he had seen a vision. After completing his duty at the temple, he returned home and Elizabeth became pregnant.

Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary, the mother of Jesus, the angel told her (among other things) that “even Elizabeth” would bear a child “in her old age” and that Elizabeth was already six months pregnant, “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:36-38. NIV. Upon hearing this, Mary immediately packed up and traveled to see Elizabeth in Judea.

As she entered the home and greeted Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She said to Mary in a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear. But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 1:42,43. NIV. Mary then offered her song of praise, the Magnificat. Their visit lasted about three months and then Mary returned home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

Soon after Mary left, it was time for Elizabeth to give birth. And there was much joy among family and friends at John’s arrival. When they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father, but Elizabeth said: “No! He is to be called John.” Then they asked Zechariah and he wrote: “His name is John.” Luke 1:60,63. NIV. Everyone was “astonished” that both parents wanted to name him “John.” Right away, Zechariah could speak again and he began to praise God. “The neighbors were filled with awe and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is the child going to be?'” Luke 1:64-66. NIV.

Zechariah’s song of Praise

In his song, Zechariah begins by praising God because he is sending redemption, salvation, and mercy to his people from the lineage of David and because he will provide deliverance from Israel’s enemies. Then Zechariah turns his attention toward his son, John, describing God’s mission for him. John “will be called a prophet of the Most High” and “go on before the Lord (Messiah) to prepare the way for him.” He will “give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins because of the tender mercy of our God” and provide them with illumination and peace. Then we are told that John “grew,” “became strong in spirit,” and “lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.” Luke 1:67-80. NIV.

Seeing God at Work

Godly Parents: There are a number of ways that God intervened in these stories to accomplish his purpose. To begin with, he provided godly parents in Zechariah and Elizabeth so that John the Baptist would be exposed to the Word of God and the ways of God by his parents through both example and teaching. This prepared him to be a fearless prophet of God and the herald of Jesus Christ.

Chosen by Lot: Also, God arranged for Zechariah to be chosen by lot to serve in the temple at just the right time. The apparent randomness of casting lots turned out to be not random at all. It was exactly the right time for Zechariah to be in the temple and for the angel to tell him that Elizabeth would become pregnant. This then allowed John to be born at the right time so he could become the herald of Jesus the Messiah, who was to be born six months after John.

The Angel’s Visit: Additionally, God sent the angel Gabriel to Zechariah. Everything the angel said came to pass just as it was told. When the angel struck him dumb for a time, this not only taught him that God’s word is reliable, it also was a sign to family and friends that God was at work in this situation.

Mary and Elizabeth: Further, the angel Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth was six months pregnant. This motivated Mary to visit Elizabeth and to share with her the miracle God had done in her pregnancy. When Mary arrived, God caused baby John to leap in Elizabeth’s womb, and he caused Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak incredible words about Mary’s blessedness. Surely the two women shared joyfully what God was doing in and with each of them. God was giving them an extended opportunity for mutual support and sharing which they both needed as very special servants of the Most High God.

Supernatural Events: Another way God intervened is when he made sure Elizabeth knew that Mary was pregnant with the Messiah, and she also knew her son was to be named “John.” How did she learn these things? We aren’t told, so we can’t be sure. Did Mary send a message ahead of her visit? Did Zechariah tell her John’s name? If they didn’t, then God told her because she knew. Friends and family were surprised at the name. The people of Judea were in awe and wondered because these events were so unusual, so supernatural. Which events? Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the choice of the name “John,” Zechariah’s praise song and his report of the appearance of the angel. All these events were the result of Divine activity.

Zechariah Transformed: Zechariah’s song reveals that Zechariah now has faith. He believes the angel’s message and is trusting in God. Moreover, he now understands God’s plan to employ John as the herald of the Messiah and to bring redemption, truth, and peace through the Messiah, who will be the son of Mary. God had to do a work in Zechariah to get him to this place. He had to transform both his mind and his heart. God worked to change him with the angel’s words, by striking him dumb, by Elizabeth’s pregnancy, by Mary’s visit, and by making him able to speak again. Now he can trust because he sees that God is faithful and he understands what God is doing. He is a changed man.

Summary: So it is that we can see the hand of God working his plan and purpose in the lives of Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary in many supernatural ways to prepare for the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ. These events confirm the virgin birth through the words of Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary.

Here also, we are asserting that it is reasonable to believe that the conversations with Simeon and Anna are accurate and reflect what was actually said because of Luke’s careful research and reporting of events. About 40 days after his birth, the time came to take baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem “to be consecrated to the Lord.” Luke 1:22. NIV. Once Joseph and Mary got in the temple, they met Simeon and Anna who, without prior knowledge, affirmed the Messiahship of Jesus.

The Witness of Simeon

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

“When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.'” Luke 1:25-35. NIV.

Simeon, a righteous and devout man, had been shown by God that even though he was an old man, he would see the Lord Christ before he died. Then the Holy Spirit led him to the temple on the precise day and time that Joseph and Mary brought Jesus there. Simeon immediately recognized Jesus as the Christ. How did he know? God had to reveal this to him.

And God gave him insight into the future ministry of Jesus which would come 30 years later. Again, how could he know these things? He indicated that Jesus would bring salvation, be a light of revelation to both Gentiles and Jews, cause some to “fall” due to unbelief and “rise” because of faith, face opposition, and experience suffering which is exactly how it happened. And he told Mary that she would experience anguish as well, which she did when Jesus was crucified.

The Witness of Anna

“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 1:36-38. NIV.

Here, Anna, a devout woman who worshiped God night and day, also recognized that the child was “the redemption of Israel,” that is, the promised Messiah.

Conclusion: Both Simeon and Anna were apparently strangers to Joseph and Mary. It was incredible that Simeon was in the temple just at the time Jesus’ parents brought him there and that he and Anna both recognized the baby Jesus as the Messiah. How did Simeon know to come at the right time? And how did they both know the baby was the Messiah? God must have been speaking to them. Here again, we see God at work affirming his Son in a miraculous way. The words of Simeon and Anna are entirely consistent with and therefore support the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.

Based on criteria previously discussed, we believe the stories about the Shepherds and the Wise Men are true and accurate descriptions of what actually happened 2,000 years ago. Once one understands that these stories are true, it becomes possible to see God working to welcome his Son into the world by the most extraordinary means.

The Shepherds and the Angels

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'” Luke 2:8-12. NIV.

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

“When the angel had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

“So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:13-20. NIV.

The Shepherds: These were not ordinary shepherds. They had the responsibility of caring for sheep which were to be used for sacrifice in the temple. As such we believe they were people of faith, devout, honoring God and keeping the Law of Moses. When they heard the news, they received the message given to them from the angel, acted on it, and shared it with people in their region. Their response shows their faith.

The Lambs: According to the Law of Moses, each sacrificial lamb had to be unblemished, healthy, and perfect in form. Only the best lambs could be offered as a sacrifice to a Holy God. Thus, these shepherds had to provide the best care possible to their flocks and work to make sure the flock produced unblemished lambs.

The Symbolism: The shepherds’ responsibility was to care for sacrificial lambs who would be sacrificed for the sins of the people of Israel. These shepherds are at this time, being called on to see the Messiah as a baby, who would become God’s Sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the world. By their occupation, they were upholding the Old Testament sacrificial system which was a picture of the true sacrifice for sin by Jesus Christ. They now get to see the true and complete sacrifice, the unblemished sacrifice, the sinless sacrifice, provided by God in his Son for the whole world.

The Angel: Suddenly, an Angel of the Lord appeared! And, the glory of the Lord shown around them! They were not expecting this. The angel frightened them. Light was all around them in the middle of the night. The angel had to calm them down saying, “Do not be afraid.” Then he told them the good news: A Savior is born! Today! Who is Christ the Lord!

This is what the Jews had been waiting for: A Savior who forgives sins; the Christ, the Messiah descended from David; and who is Deity (“the Lord”). The angel emphasized that this was happening “Today,” and it was cause for “Joy,” and was for all people, both Jews and Gentiles.

A Host of Angels: Next, a company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel giving “glory to God” and “peace to men.” This amazing display of heavenly worship to God and heavenly benevolence to mankind is striking! Here heavenly beings acknowledge and rejoice over the birth of Jesus, the Christ of God who will become the Savior, and over the blessing he will bring.

The Shepherds Respond: Following this, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see Jesus and found things just as they had been told by the angel. If the angel had not appeared, they wouldn’t have known about the baby Jesus and would not have gone to see him. And, they would not have left their sheep unless they had a really good reason. But once they were told, they rushed to see him because they believed the truth of what they had been told. Again, they were men of faith.

An Amazing Story: In this story, we see God at work in many ways. The shepherds were prepared both by their vocation of caring for sacrificial lambs, and by their mindset of faith in God to receive the angel’s message. Then an angel appeared! A message was given! Heavenly hosts praised God! And how can we account for the shepherds’ visit to see Jesus unless we allow that there was an actual appearance to them by the angel and the host of angels? All these events can be best explained by the intervention of almighty God who is announcing, highlighting and celebrating the birth of his Son as he is coming into the world. Such an angelic display strongly supports the actual virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

The Wise Men

The story of the wise men is found in Matthew. “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’

“When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

“‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: “But you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”‘ (Micah 5:2)

“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

“And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country another route. When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.'” Matthew 2:1-15. NIV.

How Did They Know? What motivated the Wise Men to make the long journey to Jerusalem? It was because they knew about the “King of the Jews” and his star. Clearly, information about the Jewish Messiah was known in the Eastern nation from which the wise Men came. But how did it get there? While this is a bit of a mystery, we think that quite possible that this information came to the Babylonians and Assyrians by the Jews who were forcibly taken to Babylon around 606 BC. Even though 70 years later when some Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem, many stayed behind with their traditions and Scriptures. However this happened, we do know that in some way God made sure this information was available in a non-Jewish (Gentile) nation so that these Magi could come and worship the Lord’s Christ.

The Star: Then there was the star in the sky which was the sign of the Messiah. And the Wise Men had criteria by which they judged this particular star to be the one. God sent the star! And God gave the understanding about the meaning of the star!

What the Wise Men Knew: The Magi knew that a Jewish King was coming, they knew that he should be worshiped and therefore was God, and they knew a star in the heavens would signal his arrival. But they didn’t know exactly where he was to be born other than somewhere in Israel. So, they went to Jerusalem and to King Herod to find out.

King Herod: Even though he was a terrible man, God nevertheless used King Herod to call together the teachers of the Law to determine where Christ would be born, which was in Bethlehem. And, of course, God inspired the words written by the prophet Micah 710 years before, which pinpointed this location.

The Star Reappears: God sent the star again, this time to guide the Wise Men to the very place Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were living. The residence is referred to as a “house,” so the family had moved from the stable to a more permanent dwelling. And the text refers to Jesus as a “child” so he is no longer a baby. Thus, the wise Men’s visit likely occurred when Jesus was 18 months to 2 years of age.

The Gifts: The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh symbolically represented Jesus’ Kingship, Deity, and death-burial respectively. These gifts were selected because they were gifts that were commonly given to a king. Most likely, the gifts also helped finance the trip to Egypt.

The Dreams: By dreams God prevented the Wise Men from returning to Herod, who wanted to kill Jesus, and God sent a dream to Joseph to tell him to escape to Egypt with his family.

God at Work: In this story we see God’s amazing hand, sending a star twice, providing information to a heathen culture, making the Magi aware of the event and significance of the coming of the Messiah, inspiring an Old Testament prophecy indicating Jesus’ birthplace, sending dreams, and using a wicked king, all to accomplish his purpose. These events also support the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

The Miraculous is Present Throughout the Story

The amazing work of God in the lives Joseph and Mary, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna, and in the lives of the Shepherds and the Wise Men involved miraculous events. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. Mary was visited by an angel. An angel met Zechariah in the temple, God gave his wife, Elizabeth, intrinsic knowledge about the virgin birth and her own pregnancy. Simeon and Anna were able to recognize the baby Jesus as the Messiah without prior knowledge. The Shepherds were visited by an angel and a host of angels who told them the good news. The wise Men had knowledge of the Messiah and his star. Without God these events in the lives of these people would never have occurred.

Miracles Are Possible

If there is a God*, and we believe there is, then miracles are possible. If the eternal God spoke the universe into being creating matter, energy, space, and time as well as the laws of physics, and created life itself and the laws of biology, then he is in control of all creation and can alter these laws at his pleasure. If Jesus Christ rose from the dead*, and we believe he did, there must be a God and life and death are also under God’s control.

We have discussed a large number of events, which contain miraculous occurrences. Any objective observer who accepts these stories as reliable historical records* will also have to accept the conclusion that these events display the miraculous. In fact, it would be impossible to explain how these events occurred without the intervention of Almighty God.

If a person approaches the story of the virgin birth with the belief that all events have only natural causes, he will miss entirely what God has done. He needs to consider that there is a God who does miracles. We believe the universe is not a closed system. Rather, it was created by God who is outside it, superior to it, and able to control it. This allows miracles to occur in real time, in a real place, and in the life of a real person. Such are the miracles we see in this story.

If Jesus rose from the dead, then God took the dead body of Jesus and infused life into it. Moreover, he transformed it into a resurrection body which had supernatural abilities. If this happened, then we can certainly see that God could also create life in the womb of Mary with no human intervention. For God the Creator of the universe and the Originator of life, this is totally possible.

*See these articles on this website: “Why Christians Believe in God,” “Why Christians Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” and “Why Christians Believe the Bible” for more information on these topics.

Never has a birth like this occurred in the history of mankind. When has an angel appeared to the parents of a child to inform them of the birth of their child, except for Joseph and Mary? And how many times has God sent an angel to a mother announcing a virgin birth and fulfilling a 700-year-old prophecy, except for Mary? How often has God sent an angel to tell an old man that he and his wife will have a child who will be the herald of the Messiah, except for Zacharias and Elizabeth? When have strangers ever declared the Messiahship of a baby without prior knowledge, except for Simeon and Anna? For which newborn baby have the heavens opened up and a host of angels sang, announcing and celebrating his birth, except for Jesus? Where do we find in history a visitation of Wise Men to honor and worship a child, except in the story of Jesus? And where do we find God’s protection of a young child’s life through dreams to the father, except with Jesus?

The Timing, the Displays and the Prophecies: How do we account for the precise timing of the angel’s appearances to Zachariah, Joseph, Mary, the Shepherds, the Wise Men? All these occurrences are sequenced and timed to fit together perfectly. And what about the Displays to honor the newborn baby and young child! The angels singing in the heavens and foreign kings bowing down to the King of the Jews. These things didn’t happen by accident. They had to be coordinated by God. And, what child has ever had multiple prophecies predicting his birthplace, tribe of origin, hometown, kingship, eternality, virgin birth, Deity, and Messiahship? Such prophecies indicate that God had planned these events, including the virgin birth, thousands of years in advance and that this was the time in history he had determined for it to happen.

Supernatural Occurrences: Here we have a startling array of supernatural occurrences which were informing, preparing, affirming, heralding, celebrating, honoring, worshiping and protecting the Son of God as he entered into this world! This is an extremely coherent story with multiple players who don’t necessarily have anything to do with each other. Yet, each story segment fits together perfectly with all the others, indicating God’s Divine orchestration of the entirety. These events then, support belief in the virgin birth and in the Deity of Jesus Christ; for if God was at work doing all these miracles surrounding the birth of Jesus, it’s reasonable to believe that the virgin birth was also part of his plan and that he was bringing none other than the Son of the Living God into the world.

The Scriptures tell us there was a virgin birth which happened because of divine intervention. This raises certain expectations. We would think that such a child, virgin-born by the power of God, would have a future life befitting of his miraculous birth. So, we ask, what do we find in the life of Jesus which corresponds to a miraculous birth? If we find nothing, then the virgin birth would become suspect, because he would live his life like an ordinary person. But if his life shows evidence of the power of God over and over again, this provides a strong argument for his miraculous birth. I think we shall see that the life of Jesus displayed the power of God from beginning to end and in a variety of ways.

Jesus at 12 Years of Age: When Jesus was 12 years old, he went with his parents to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When it was time for the family to return home, Jesus stayed behind. His parents assumed he was with the group of friends and relatives traveling together, but after one day’s journey, they searched for him and he was not there

They returned to Jerusalem and searched for him for three days before “they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’ ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:41-52. NIV.

Here, at 12 years of age, Jesus is able to conduct an adult conversation with the most intelligent and best educated theologians of his day. He displayed his extensive knowledge and comprehension of the Scriptures and was able to ask intelligent questions, understand the answers, and answer questions himself about complex theological issues. He even indicated that he was the special Son of his Father-God and that he was doing God’s work by being there. This is not a picture of an ordinary 12-year-old boy. This is the picture of an extraordinary boy with exceptional abilities who has a unique relationship with God.

The Baptism of Jesus: “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan (River) to be baptized by John (the Baptist). But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented. As soon as he was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.'” Matthew 3:13-17. NIV.

John’s baptism was one of repentance. So, at first, John objected. He did not want baptize Jesus because John understood that Jesus needed no repentance as the sinless Messiah. But Jesus convinced John that it was necessary. Jesus’ baptism then, showed not repentance, but his total commitment to God and his identification with the need of sinful people to repent of their sins. It also “publicly announced the arrival of the Messiah and the inception of his ministry.” ⁹9. NIV note for Matthew 3:15. p 1446.

Once baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove and the Father spoke from heaven voicing his approval and his love for his Son. Here we have each member of the Trinity present, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, showing the unity and support of the Godhead regarding the ministry of Jesus in the world. This is a remarkable picture of a man who is confirmed to be the Messiah by heaven’s Dove and Voice. These visual and auditory signs, tell us that he is indeed God incarnate, the promised one, who is about to begin his ministry. This is no ordinary man; he is the Messiah who has the approval and backing of heaven.

The Teaching of Jesus: In Matthew chapters 5-7 we find The Sermon on the Mount.” In it, Jesus describes those who are blessed; encourages his followers to be “salt” and “light” in the world; emphasizes the importance of observing every part of God’s Law; explains that obedience needs to be done with the heart; encourages alms, prayer, and love for enemies; admonishes believers to lay up treasure in heaven; teaches his followers not to worry; establishes a correct basis for moral evaluation (judgment) of others; and warns against false teachers.

The sheer breadth and depth of his teaching is breathtaking. In fact, we believe these teachings represent the highest standards of moral teaching in the history of man! After Jesus finished speaking, “the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Matthew 7:28,29. NIV. Here we have the best moral teaching ever, given with the kind of authority which comes only from God.

Jesus Read People’s Minds: On a Sabbath, Jesus went into a synagogue to teach. It happened that a man with a shriveled hand was there. Present also were Jewish religious leaders, who wanted to discredit Jesus. They were watching him to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, which was against their tradition. “But Jesus knew what they were thinking,” and he said to them, “which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” Then he healed the man. Luke 6:6-10. NIV.

After Jesus cast out a demon and a man’s speech was restored, some people believed he had accomplished this by the power of the devil. Luke tells us “Jesus knew their thoughts” and then he explained that it was ridiculous for them to think that Satan was working to defeat himself (by casting out his own demon) instead of thinking that Jesus’ power came from God. Luke 11:14-20. NIV. In both of these instances, Jesus read people’s minds, something only God can do.

Jesus Forgave Sins: Jesus was teaching in a house in Galilee one day where a number of Jewish teachers had come to hear him. Because of the crowd, several men lowered their friend, a paralytic, down through the roof to get to Jesus who was in the house. “When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend your sins are forgiven.'” The teachers began to think that Jesus had spoken blasphemy, because only God can forgive sins. “Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk?” But that you may know that the son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….’ He said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God.” Luke 5:17-26. NIV.

Notice the question Jesus asked; “Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say ‘Get up and walk?’ Clearly, it was easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven’ because there was no way anyone could prove or disprove if the man’s sins had been forgiven. Correspondingly, it was harder (required more authority) to say “Get up and walk” because that statement required a result which could be easily observed. When Jesus gave the command and the man got up and walked, he demonstrated his authority over bodily injury/disease just by speaking. He is telling us that he is the Son of God. Only God could have cured the paralytic instantly and only God can forgive sins. If Jesus could heal, he could also forgive sins.

Jesus Did Miracles: We have already discussed three miracles, the healing of the man with the shriveled hand, the healing of the demoniac and the healing of the paralytic. In all, thirty-five miracles are presented in the gospels, but Jesus did many more than that. In Matthew 15:30 we read, “Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them (all).” NIV. Scenes like this occurred many times in his ministry, so the number of healings Jesus did is certainly in the hundreds, and probably in the thousands. Jesus did three types of miracles: healing diseases and birth defects, exercising authority over natural law, and raising the dead. These miracles are a testimony to who Jesus is, the Son of God.

Jesus Fulfilled Prophecies: Over 300 Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ! They predicted his ancestry, virgin birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension. Many of them told of events which were to happen 700 to 1,000 years ahead in incredibly great detail. Only God could have foretold the future in this way. These prophecies reveal that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God, God incarnate, and not a mere man.

Jesus Claimed He Came From the Father: John 1:14 reads: “The Word (Jesus) became flesh (human) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” NIV. In John 6:57 Jesus tells us that “the living Father sent me.” NIV. In John 5:36 Jesus says, “For the very work that the Father has given me to finish…testifies that the Father has sent me.” NIV. Here Jesus offers proof that the Father sent him; the proof is in his incredible compassion and teaching and miracles and sacrifice on the cross and resurrection and ascension.

John 5:18 reports the consternation of the Jewish teachers who exclaimed: “He (Jesus) was even calling God his own Father making himself equal with God.” NIV. They were right. Jesus claimed to have a unique relationship with God as his Divine Son. In John 8:38 Jesus explains that his teaching reflects what he has seen in the Father’s presence, indicating that Jesus was in the presence of God the Father before coming to earth. Finally, in John 14:12 as well as in other passages, Jesus says he will return to his Father once his ministry is completed.

Thus, Jesus claimed that he was sent to earth by his Father in heaven, that his ministry and miracles prove that this is true, that he enjoyed a unique relationship with the Father as his Divine son, and that he was to return to his father in heaven after his ministry was completed. Such a relationship with the Father means that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, Deity.

Jesus’ Transfiguration: Toward the end of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a mountain to pray. “As he prayed, the appearance of his face changed – his face shown like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.”

Suddenly Moses and Elijah were talking with him; They appeared glorious and were talking with Jesus about his soon coming death in Jerusalem. At first Peter and the others were in a deep sleep, but then became fully awake, whereupon they saw His glory and the two men. Peter suggested erecting three tabernacles on the mountain, but he really didn’t know what to say, because he and the others were terrified.

While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them, and they became even more afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my Son whom I love; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him.” After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was found. This story is found in three passages: Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:1-8, and Luke 9:28-36. The above is a composite drawn from all three.

Notice the astonishing details: Jesus’ face shown like the sun, his clothes were dazzling white. The disciples were allowed to see the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! Moses, representing God’s Law, and Elijah representing the prophets were present. This suggests that everything God had said and done in the Old Testament was brought to bear on the next main event in God’s plan, the crucifixion of Jesus for the sins of the world. The cloud, representing the Presence of God the Father, enveloped them and His voice spoke indicating his love for and approval of Jesus’ ministry and coming death.

These are not normal events. They are beyond human origin. Such brilliance! The presence of Old Testament figures who had been dead for centuries! The cloud, which guided and protected Israel in the wilderness! The voice from the cloud affirming Jesus! This is God putting his stamp of approval on the life and person of Christ. This shows Jesus to be who he is, the Son of the living God.

And why did Jesus take these disciples on the mountain to have this experience? Because, even though they had already believed that He was the Messiah, this experience would confirm to them beyond any doubt that his was the case. As leaders of the band of disciples, they would need to be absolutely sure about Him, because they would face great difficulty ahead when he died and later when they were persecuted and killed for spreading the gospel. This event provided rock solid evidence and removed all doubt about believing in him. It would also allow them to convey the force of this event to others so that they might believe also.

The Life of Jesus: What does the life of Jesus reveal? At 12 years of age he displayed exceptional abilities and evidenced a unique relationship with God. At his baptism God the Father spoke from heaven and God the Spirit descended on him as a dove, confirming him as the Messiah, the incarnate Son of God. The teachings of Jesus represent the highest standard of moral teaching and were presented with an authority which only comes from God. When Jesus read people’s minds, he did something only God can do. When he claimed to forgive sins, he showed this Divine authority by healing a paralytic. The kinds of miracles Jesus did – healing diseases and birth defects, exercising authority over natural law, and raising the dead – all indicated that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus’ claims that he was sent by his Father and would return to his Father reflect a Divine relationship which also means he is the Son of God. At his transfiguration Jesus appeared glorious; Moses and Elijah were present; and the Voice of the father spoke, all indicating again, that Jesus is the Son of God.

All of these features in the life of Christ point to the same conclusion. Jesus came from God as the Messiah and as the Divine Son of God to redeem mankind. These events are entirely consistent with a virgin birth. The presence of the miraculous in Jesus’ person, life, and ministry support the idea of the miraculous in his birth. But there is more. Evidence for the power of God at work in his life is also found in his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. We discuss these next.

The Crucifixion: During the crucifixion: Several supernatural events occurred: 1) “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land.” Matthew 27:45. This period of darkness is verified by secular historians. We believe this was the period when God the Father had to separate himself from Jesus the Son. The sins of the world were being laid on Jesus and the Father is so holy that he could not allow sin to come into his presence.

2) Just after Jesus bowed his head and died, “Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary (in the Jewish temple) was split in two from top to bottom.” Matthew 27:51. HCSB. This curtain was torn apart from the top by the hand of God, signifying that we may now enter into the presence of God because the price for sin has been paid.

3) And there was an earthquake. “The earth quaked and the rocks were split.” Matthew 27:51. HCSB. And, “When the centurion and those with him (soldiers), who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, ‘This man really was God’s Son.'” Matthew 27:54. HCSB. This hardened and cruel centurion and his soldiers had never seen anything like this in any of the many crucifixions they had conducted. They became convinced by the evidence of the darkness, earthquake and the manner in which Jesus died, that he was more than a mere man, that he was truly the Son of God.

Note the words Jesus spoke while he hung on the cross. He said, 1) “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34. KJV. This is an astonishing statement. Who would even think about forgiving people who had been abusive in every possible way through an unjust trial, beatings, torture, excruciating pain, insults, mocking and death – when he was innocent? Jesus did! Then Jesus spoke to his mother and to John the apostle and asked him to care for her. Here again, he is showing compassion in the midst of extreme suffering.

Later, Jesus said, 2) “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46. NIV. The sins of the world were laid on Jesus when he was on the cross. He, the innocent one, was accepting the punishment for each person’s sins so that he could bestow his righteousness on those who would come to him in repentance and faith. Even during this separation, Jesus proclaimed that God was still His God. In total aloneness and pain Jesus remained certain that not only was God his God, but also that God, by implication, would raise him from the dead.

Just before his death, “Jesus said, 3) ‘It is finished.‘” John 19:30. NIV. In the original language (Greek), this means, “The debt is paid.” Here, Jesus is saying that he has completed the work of bearing all the sins of the world, and that the debt (or punishment) for these sins has been paid in full.

The Scripture continues, “With that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30. NIV.), saying, 4) “‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” Luke 23:46. NIV. The verbs “bowed” (his head), “gave up” (his spirit), and “commit” indicated that for Jesus, dying was an act of his will. He had chosen to allow himself to be beaten and placed on a cross, but he was still in total control throughout the entire ordeal.

He indicated this when he said to his disciples: “I lay down my life only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:17,18. NIV.

Jesus’ death was unique. There were the attending supernatural events: the three hours of darkness, the earthquake, and the tearing of the temple curtain. Then there were Jesus’ amazing words from the cross: He forgave those who killed him, he completely pardoned a repentant thief, he showed compassion toward his mother, he proclaimed absolute faith in God, he declared the work of salvation to be completed, and he decided when to die and give his spirit to God. Incredibly, even on the cross, he was in complete control of his life.

Moreover, Old Testament prophecies in Isaiah 53 and in Psalm 22, which were given 700 and 1,000 years before their fulfillment, foretold his death on the cross and his resurrection. And, Jesus himself told his disciples repeatedly that he would die in this manner and be raised from the dead.

On the cross Jesus carried the weight of the sins of all mankind even though he lived a sinless life and was innocent of any wrongdoing. And his intense suffering was not only physical, emotional, and social; it was also spiritual when he was separated from his Father. No one else has ever suffered like he did. In all these ways, the death of Jesus Christ is set apart from the deaths of all other people in the world.

The Resurrection: There are three primary bodies of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They are: 1) Jesus actually died on the cross. 2) The tomb in which he was buried was empty on resurrection day. And, 3) Jesus made numerous appearances to his disciples after he rose from the dead. We believe the evidence is sufficient to confirm all three. See the article on this web site, “Why Christians Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ” for more information.

The very fact of Christ’s resurrection validates him as the Son of God, the Messiah, the promised One. It tells us that his claim to be fully man and fully God (Deity) is correct. It shows us that his teachings are true. It confirms his teaching about the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Through it we come to understand that God is personal, trustworthy, compassionate, and loving. It informs us that Jesus, who has been given all authority in heaven and earth, will in the last time be our Judge. And it demonstrates convincingly that God exists, that he’s real, and that he cares about of all of us. It becomes the basis for real hope in this life and in eternity.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the miracle of all miracles!!! His body was not resuscitated because he actually died. Instead, his dead body was given life and absolutely transformed into a body that was similar, yet qualitatively different. The old body was mortal, the new, immortal. The old body was subject to decay, the new one “imperishable.” In his new body, Jesus could appear or disappear in a locked room. Yet, he presented himself as a solid, material, physical person with the scars of his original body who could be touched, eat food, and cook a meal.

His resurrection assures us of his victory over the grip that sin has on us. It makes it possible for guilt and deserved punishment for our transgressions to be removed. It means that he is victorious over evil, death, and Satan. It means, He won! He conquered! He’s the Victor! We can be at peace then, knowing that for all eternity we will live in a righteous kingdom where all evil is banished and where the Presence of our Christ and God will provide joy and fulfillment beyond measure.

The Ascension: Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven. “And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” Luke 24:50-51. NKJV. “Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them, in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven.'” Acts 1:10-11. NKJV.

Here, we see Jesus rising up in the air toward heaven into a cloud. Then angels appear and speak about his return. These are not ordinary events and they are not the result of natural causes; they clearly require the miraculous work of God.

As with every other event in the life of Christ, we see the power of God manifest in his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension in amazing ways. The presence of the miraculous in these events certainly supports the belief that God was at work in the womb of Mary when he birthed Jesus miraculously and supernaturally without human cause.

We begin with the premise that Jesus Christ is the Savior. However, to become the Savior, he had to go to the cross and be rise from the dead. And to do that, he had to possess certain qualities: he had to be a man; he had to be sinless; and he had to be God.

Why a man? Why sin-free? And why God? The Bible explains: “Sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” Also, we read: “As the result of one trespass (Adam’s sin) was condemnation for all men; so also the one act of righteousness (Jesus on the cross) was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam) the many were made sinners; so also, through the obedience of the one man (Jesus Christ) the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5: 12,18,19. NIV.

These verses tell us that when Adam sinned, he became corrupted; he became a sinner, a person with a tendency to disobey God and do wrong. This sin-nature was then passed on to every person coming after Adam. Since a man representing the entire human race committed the original sin, it would require a man, who had no sin of his own, to take the penalty for this original sin on himself, to remove this penalty. This man was Jesus Christ.

But why does he have to be God? Well, Jesus had to take on himself the sins of the entire world for all peoples in all ages. We can’t even begin to imagine the enormity of this burden. No one can conceive its immensity and weight. We believe that only an infinite being, God himself in the Person of the Son, would have the capacity to endure the degree of suffering required to pay this debt for all of man’s sin.

Jesus Had to be Virgin Born: Now in order for Jesus Christ to be born sinless, he had to be virgin born. By not having an earthly father, Jesus Christ did not receive a sinful nature; he was born sin-free. By being born of a woman, Mary, he was part of the human race; he was a man. And being born by a miracle of his heavenly Father, he was God the Son. In this way and only in this way could Jesus Christ be fully qualified to be the Savior. Thus, the virgin birth was required for God’s redemptive purpose to have been fulfilled in the life and Person of Jesus Christ. Without it, there would be no salvation, no forgiveness of sins, no eternal life, no relationship with God, no basis for faith, and no Christianity.

The Significance of the Virgin Birth

Theologian and pastor John Stott points out that, “In Luke 1, the angel’s disclosure to Mary… is in two clear and distinct stages that are complementary. The first (stage) stresses the continuity that the child will enjoy with his ancestors… since he will be born of a human mother. The second (stage) stresses the discontinuity with the past because the Holy spirit will overshadow her, and what is created within her will be a new being.

“In the first stage (Luke 1:30-34), the angel promises, ‘You will conceive in your womb and bear a son.’ Nothing unusual about that. No suggestion that she will still be a virgin when it happens. Her son will inherit from His human mother both his humanity and His title to the messianic throne because He will be physically descended from David.

“But then in Luke 1:35-38 the angel continues, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of god.’

“When you put the two sections together, Jesus would derive his humanity and his messiahship from his mother, who conceived and bore him, but he would derive His sinlessness and His divine nature from the Holy Spirit who overshadowed her.

“So, as a result of the virgin birth, you see simultaneously Jesus was both Mary’s son and God’s son. He was both human and divine. One personality with two natures – Godhead and manhood.” This is what God accomplished through the virgin birth.

Here are our reasons for believing in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ:

1. New Testament documents have been preserved as written and accurately reported actual events. This is true for the passages about the virgin birth.

2. The New Testament exhibits features that show Divine Authorship, indicating that it is the Word of God. Since God has all knowledge and speaks truth, the Bible may be relied on to be true about all matters, including the virgin birth.

3. Luke was a master historian and got it right when he described the virgin birth.

4. Matthew validated the virgin birth with fulfilled prophecies.

5. Because of his moral character, Joseph, a righteous man, would not have married Mary if he had not been convinced by the angel that Mary was a virgin and her pregnancy of divine origin.

6. Because of her moral character, Mary, a virtuous woman, would not have lied about her pregnancy.

7. The story of Zechariah reveals Divine intervention and preparation for the virgin birth.

8. The story of Elizabeth reveals Divine confirmation of the virgin birth

9. The independent witness of Simeon supports the virgin birth.

10. The independent witness of Anna supports the virgin birth.

11. The appearance of the angels to the shepherds announces, highlights, and celebrates the special birth of the Savior, the Christ, and the Lord (Deity), thus forcefully implying the virgin birth.

12. The guiding Star and the Wise Men who traveled from the East to worship the King of the Jews supports the idea of the virgin birth.

13. Multiple miracles are found throughout story of the birth of Jesus Christ, supporting the idea that his birth had to be a miracle and was not a natural birth.

14. Miracles are possible because there is a God. Therefore, the virgin birth is possible.

15. The birth of Jesus Christ and the events surrounding it are totally unique; they are like no other in the history of man. As such, they support the teaching of a virgin birth.

16. The timing, displays, and prophecies of the events surrounding the virgin birth and the virgin birth itself required the activity of God. They could not have happened by themselves. Therefore, these events reinforce the concept of a miraculous birth.

17. The supernatural occurrences regarding the virgin birth were informing, preparing, affirming, heralding, celebrating, honoring, worshiping, and protecting the child Jesus as he entered the world. Such an array of supporting events upholds the concept of a miraculous virgin birth.

18. The life of Jesus Christ displayed the miraculous throughout: from his birth to his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. This is consistent with a miraculous virgin birth.

19. The virgin birth is theologically necessary. It allowed Jesus Christ to be sin-free, human, and Divine; God and man; the promised Messiah; the Redeemer. Without it he would have been human but not the God-man who could redeem man from his sins. Without it, there would be no salvation, forgiveness, eternal life, relationship with God, basis for faith, or Christianity. With it, we have all of these.

20. The signs of Deity in the person of Jesus Christ in the Gospel accounts, are entirely consistent with a virgin birth. These include his teaching, knowledge, miracles, sinless life, and resurrection.

When we look at all of this – the evidence for the Bible’s accuracy and divine authority, Luke and Matthew’s credentials, the moral characters of Joseph and Mary, God’s Divine operation in the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the independent affirmations of Simeon and Anna, the appearance of the angels to the shepherds, the visit of the wise men, the miracles surrounding Jesus’ birth, the miracles throughout the life of Jesus, the theological necessity of the virgin birth, and the signs of Deity in the person of Christ – we are left with the conviction that the virgin birth is absolutely a fact of history and it could not have been otherwise.

God has given his witness to the virgin birth in the Bible and we are privileged to be able to know about it and believe it. If we do, it will change our lives. In the next section, we observe how the shepherds responded when they were told the news and how it changed their lives.

In his book, “No Little People,” Francis Schaeffer presents a sermon about the shepherds who visited Jesus in the manger. He entitled it “What difference has looking (at Jesus) made?” Here we recount some of Dr. Schaeffer’s thoughts about this topic.

What Were They Told?

An angel told the shepherds that a Savior (Redeemer) was born, who was Christ (Messiah) the Lord (Deity), in Bethlehem, and that they would find him in a manger. This event was described as “good news of great joy” for all people.

What did They See?

They saw “a newborn infant who made noises and cried” ¹⁰10. Schaeffer, Francis. No Little People. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003, Article: “What Difference Has Looking Made?” p 157 -158. (like other babies), who showed no “special manifestations.” ¹¹11. Schaeffer, Francis. No Little People. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003, Article: “What Difference Has Looking Made?” p 158. (There was no halo around the baby’s head or light emanating from his presence.) There was simply a baby, a mother, and her husband. “Though they could not observe it, there was something very special about this baby: he had been born of a virgin.” ¹²12. Schaeffer, Francis. No Little People. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003, Article: “What Difference Has Looking Made?” p 158.

“The infant in the manger is special because He is the one person who has not had a human father. However, there is something more. Not only does he lack a human father; He had God as his Father. We must see, though, that God is his Father not just because God caused him to be born physically by (Divine) intervention, but because God has been his Father forever.” ¹³13. Schaeffer, Francis. No Little People. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003, Article: “What Difference Has Looking Made?” p 159.

“The little baby we see lying here is the second person of the Trinity. He himself has been God forever. This baby is God who has put on flesh. This is what the shepherds were looking at.” ¹⁴14. Schaeffer, Francis. No Little People. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003, Article: “What Difference Has Looking Made?” p 159.

Why did He Come?

“Why did God come into the world? Only the scriptural answer will suffice: the second person of the Trinity has been born because He loves the world.

“But why did he come in this way, as a little baby? Why did he choose to lie in a manger and be cared for by a human mother, with the sweetness but the utter weakness of a newborn babe? He came this way because He came to meet the central need of men.

“He did not come to overthrow the Romans (or) to raise the living standards of the world. He did not come primarily to teach and relieve ignorance. An angel revealed to Joseph the primary task for which he came: ‘he shall save his people from their sins.’ (Matthew 1:21). And, How is Jesus going to fulfill this promise? By ‘Calvary’s cross’ with ‘Jesus as the Passover Lamb’ who provides the sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world.

“The second person of the Trinity lies in the manger for a reason: Because he loves the world. He came to solve the problem from which all problems flow. Man is a sinner who needs to be saved from his sins. Jesus brings overwhelming love to do just that.” ¹⁵15. Schaeffer, Francis. No Little People. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003, Article: “What Difference Has Looking Made?” p 159 -160.

What are we Going to do With Him?

“What then are we going to do with this “Savior of the world? What am I and what are you, going to do with him? Many believed in him when he was still an infant, and when they did so the baby became their Savior. The shepherds believed” ¹⁶16. Schaeffer, Francis. No Little People. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003, Article: “What Difference Has Looking Made?” p 160. based in the information they had been given. (Today, we have much more information in the New Testament on which to base our faith than they had.)

“But many did not believe. As the shepherds told others the story, we can be sure some believed and some did not. Some missed their opportunity to be in heaven because of unbelief. God gave all the information needed for faith through the shepherd’s report, but yet some did not believe or feel their need for a Savior.” ¹⁷17. Schaeffer, Francis. No Little People. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003, Article: “What Difference Has Looking Made?” p 160 – 161. (paraphrased).

Through the shepherds’ report, we can hear what they heard, see what they saw, and understand what they reported. Have we responded by believing? What difference has looking made for us?

What Difference did Seeing Jesus Make?

What difference did seeing Jesus make for the shepherds, and what difference might it make for us? Dr. Schaeffer suggests some things which commonly happen and which make a difference to those of us who believe: ¹⁸18. Schaeffer, Francis. No Little People. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003, Article: “What Difference Has Looking Made?” p 162 – 172.

1. We are faced with our sins and the need to repent of them.
2. We may face disapproval from friends or family.
3. We are motivated to pray. God has spoken to us, met us, and forgiven us. It is normal for us then to talk with Him.
4. We experience God as the Almighty; we are humbled in his presence and realize we have to put Christ first in our lives.
5. We begin to learn to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Our values change. We adopt God’s moral framework for our lives.
6. We reject materialism as an adequate philosophy of life. We learn to ‘lay up our treasures in heaven’ as a primary goal.
7. We want to share the good news about Jesus Christ. We want others to have the relationship with Christ that we have.
8. We have more love and compassion for others.
9. We recognize that we must hold to the truth of the gospel as revealed by God himself in his Word, and not be influenced to believe positions that are contrary to God’s Word offered by the secular world.
10. We stand in awe, amazement, reverence, joy, and worship at the amazing love of God as revealed in the virgin born infant, Jesus Christ, the son of God, the eternal second person of the Trinity, who is our Savior.

To take this a step further, and to learn how to accept eternal life from the Savior who was virgin born, please see the article “The Way to Eternal Life” on this website.