How These Things Could Be

How these things could be. This is the question Mary had when Gabriel appeared to her. She was a young virgin in Nazareth. People knew her in town but otherwise she was unknown. She was from poor people who loved the Lord. They conducted themselves properly. They went to synagogue.

What news! It was incredible and amazing. Before this day it was only known in prophecy. Mary asked how it could be since she had not known a man. This is what she asked Gabriel and he answered. It’s of vast importance. Don’t let the devil take your believe in the truth that Jesus was born of a virgin. It’s necessary to the salvation of your soul and the success of the gospel. Jesus is the son of God.

Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

The visit from Gabriel marked a turning point in history. Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden the world had been going down hill. God gave Eve, a virgin, to Adam. He knew her and Cain and Abel were born. After Abel’s death Seth was born. They were sinners fallen from their perfect state because of sin. It couldn’t be attained by them again. Someone had to help. Genesis 3 tells us the woman’s seed would crush the head of the serpent. It takes the joining of a man and woman to create. We were created male and female. Usually the seed of man is mentioned. There can be no conception apart from that joining of man and woman. It won’t happen with two females or two males. Even the animal world teaches us this. Eve messed it up. Adam gave in and both were guilty. The solution to man’s greatest problem came through a woman and God sent himself.

Mary was a young virgin girl. Elisabeth was an older woman way past childbearing age. She had tried to conceive but it was not until God spoke. John the Baptist would be born. Both events were miracles of God. Gabriel told Mary she would have a son and he’d be called the son of the Highest, not the son of Joseph. She knew the baby would be by God. As believers, we are not begotten children of God. We are born again of the Spirit. How can these things be? Science can’t do it. Mary and Joseph couldn’t. Look what has happened because Abraham and Sara got ahead of God. It was God’s choice, his plan, his method. Mary had a choice. The angel didn’t come right out and ask her but she knew she had a choice. She was willing.

Unmarried. A virgin. Become pregnant? Mary asked how. God wanted Mary to know. Intimacy is a private thing. Jesus was coming as a human, laying aside his deity. He had to become human like we are in order to save us. Be he had to be God as well. Jesus was never backward about saying he was the son of God but he also reminded us he was the son of man. We have a kinship with him because of it. Through Gabriel God explained it all. Mary wouldn’t feel intruded upon, surprised or afraid. I don’t understand exactly how the conception took place. The Holy Ghost would come upon Mary. Everyone who is saved knows the Holy Ghost but before the crucifixion the Holy Spirit moved at certain times, at will. This would ensure things would be all right. I don’t know how but it was proper.

The virgin birth is the central element of the gospel. If Jesus had not come of a virgin and been virgin born, his birth would have meant nothing. He would have been born a sinner. But he was God in the flesh. His suffering, because he was God, was for us. Had he not been conceived by God and carried by a virgin, the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus would have been in vain. He couldn’t have been the perfect sacrifice if he had been born of man. I’m glad Mary said Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.  Let it happen!

If Satan can get you to stop believing Jesus was born of a virgin, he’ll have you. Even in the world there is some mention of Jesus. They sing “round yon virgin” but there is no real belief. Until the Holy Spirit convicted me I didn’t believe. If the world would just believe the simple truth and get past the trappings of Christmas.  If we’ll believe God was conceived and born of a virgin, we’ll know the gospel is true. There is a God in heaven that was made flesh and dwelt among us. This is the most important fact of creation. Mary trusted enough in God to bear his son in her womb. Matthew 1:25 tells us Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. Mary did not lose her virginity after the birth of Jesus. She and Joseph had many children but that firstborn son was conceived while Mary was still a virgin. God was his Father.

The devil can’t do a thing about it. The world can’t either. How? Verse 37 tells us to remember this: For with God nothing shall be impossible.