Author: Haverland
Last saved by: Andrew

BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY

Possible readings: Luke 1:1-25; Ex 40:34-38; and/or the account of the birth of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew
Text: Luke 1:34-38 (read verses 26-38)
Theme: Gabriel informs Mary that although a virgin she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God.
Purpose: To highlight the great miracle of the Son of God being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin birth.

Every Christmas we remember again the birth of Jesus Christ. We celebrate his entrance into this world as a man. We recall that he came as God incarnate, that is, God in the flesh. We marvel at the astounding miracle that he was “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.” (Apostles Creed) We ponder again the great mystery that he was God and that he added to his divine nature a human nature; that he was God and man, divine and human, having two natures in the one person. 

Many people have pondered this miracle and rejected it. They cannot accept it and do not believe that Jesus was born of a virgin. 

Take the well-known biblical commentator William Barclay who wrote; “The church does not insist that we believe in this doctrine… In this matter we may make our own decision. It may be that we will desire to cling to the literal doctrine of the Virgin Birth; it may be that we will prefer to think of it as a beautiful way of stressing the presence of the Spirit of God in family life.” (Commentary on Luke, p. 6-7)

William Barclay is wrong. The Church does insist that we believe this doctrine. This is not a matter for our own decision. The orthodox doctrine about the person and work of Jesus Christ stands or falls on this truth. It is clearly taught in the Bible and has been confessed in the creeds and confessions of the church since the very beginning. The salvation of God’s people depends on Jesus being the Son of God born into this world as a man. To redeem his people he had to be both God and man. 

Luke describes the birth of Jesus in the first two chapters of his gospel. He wrote a beautiful, simple and clear account of how Jesus came into this world. The passage we have just read, especially the verses 31-36, is the theological centre of these two chapters. This is the highest peak in the nativity narrative. The words of the angel Gabriel to Mary are the doctrinal foundation for our understanding of who Jesus is and what he came to do.

In his opening words to Mary, in verses 30-33, the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to a son who would be the Son of the Most High, that is, the Son of God, and that he would be the Son of David, that is, a great king ruling over an eternal kingdom.

1. Mary responds to the words of Gabriel with A QUESTION: verse 34; “How will this be since I am a virgin?”

Six months earlier Gabriel had informed Zechariah the priest that his wife Elizabeth would give birth to a son. Zechariah found this hard to believe. After all, he was old and his wife was well along in years. He doubted the words of the angel and asked for a sign. Gabriel rebuked him for not believing his words and Zechariah was unable to speak until John was born.

Mary’s question, however, did not arise out of doubt or unbelief. She believed what he had said but sought to understand how this would happen. From what the angel had said she correctly understood that she would conceive a child without the involvement of a man; but how was this going to work since she was a virgin. She had faith but hesitated over this point; her question arose out of her wonder and amazement about all this. (Calvin)

2. In response THE ANGEL EXPLAINED THIS FURTHER

This was such a deep mystery that he expressed it in the parallel lines of Hebrew poetry that the Jews were so familiar with. Verse 35: 
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

Gabriel spoke about this with restraint and reverence. He described a deep and holy mystery but did not go into detail about exactly how this would happen. Even conception between a husband and a wife is a mystery, despite all our medical knowledge about the process. Psalm 139 says; “For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made….” (v 13-14)
If we cannot understand human conception how can we understand this divine conception in the virgin Mary; this one surpasses our human understanding and we must be careful not to say too much and not to probe too deeply into it. 

What is clear is that this is a work of God; this is supernatural and extraordinary and a miracle!

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you” (v 35) 
The Holy Spirit is mentioned seven times in these two chapters. He is the active, creative, productive power of God. He was there at the very beginning, involved in the work of creation; “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Gen 1:2; cf. Psalm 104:30) And he is active here in this miracle; Jesus was “conceived by the Holy Spirit.”

In the next parallel line of this poetry Gabriel says; “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” 

The “Most High” is God the Father. Luke often uses this title for God. 

The word “overshadow” looks back to the cloud that settled on the Tent of Meeting and the glory of God that filled the tabernacle. (Ex 40:34f) The cloud represented the presence and power of God Most High.
The same word is used in Luke’s account of the glory of the Lord Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration; “a cloud came and overshadowed them….”(Luke 9:34f)

This is how Mary, as a virgin, would conceive this child.

Gabriel concludes his explanation at the end of verse 35; “So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Jesus would be “holy.” The word means set apart and pure. Jesus was born of Mary, who had a sinful human nature, but the Holy Spirit kept Jesus from inheriting that sin. We are conceived and born in sin, but Jesus was without sin, he was perfect, pure and blameless. He had to be holy so that he could make the perfect sacrifice for sin. The writer of Hebrews expanded on this when he wrote; “Such a High Priest meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners….” (Heb 7:24)

He is holy and would be called “the Son of God.” 
Earlier Gabriel had called him “the Son of the Most High.” 
On the Mount of Transfiguration “a voice came out of the cloud saying; ‘This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him’.” (Luke 9:35)

Jesus did not become the Son of God when he was born into the world; he always was God’s Son, from all eternity. Rather he added to his divine nature a human nature and was born into this world as a man. 
As we have noted many have found this a hard truth to believe. Many have not accepted it. They claim that Jesus was the son of Joseph conceived during the engagement. But Matthew tells us; “Joseph had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son.” (Matt 1:25) 

The Bible is plain and clear; he was conceived by the power of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. 

3. Having answered Mary’s question with this explanation the angel Gabriel then CONFIRMED this for her. 
In verse 36 we read; “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.” 

The angel wanted to help Mary and so reinforced his words to her by pointing to the power of God at work in Elizabeth. 

The other great biblical example of God’s power in the womb is Isaac being born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age – another miracle baby!

Mary had not heard about the pregnancy of her older relative. Communication was limited in those days – no texting, email or facebook! And Elizabeth lived down south in Judea and had kept herself in seclusion for five months. 
Perhaps Gabriel was hinting that Mary should go and see Elizabeth, which she did very soon after this. (v 39f)

Gabriel adds; “For nothing is impossible with God.” 

He had given a particular promise to Mary about the birth of a son and he confirms this with a general statement about the character of God. God is almighty, all-powerful; he can do anything!
When Abraham and Sarah doubted God’s word he asked them; “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen 18:14)

The angel assured Mary; “Nothing is impossible with God.” 
One writer claims this is “one of the most reassuring statements in all Scripture.” 

We need this reassurance for ourselves. With God everything is possible. He will always do what he has promised. His grace is sufficient for us. We can do all things through him who gives us the strength. If God is for us who can be against us? We need to live day-by-day and year-by-year with “a thorough conviction of the almighty power of God.” (Ryle) We need to believe this as we look ahead to next year. “Nothing is impossible with God.”

Mary had asked her question. The angel had explained what God would do and confirmed this for her. 

4. Mary responds with A HUMBLE ACCEPTANCE
Verse 38: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

Even in this brief conversation Mary had probably already thought of many of the potential difficulties and problems she could face. 
What would Joseph think when he heard that she was pregnant, knowing that it wasn’t his baby!? He could divorce her; and we know that he did consider this possibility. (Matt 1:19)
What would her friends and neighbours say in this small town of Nazareth? What gossip and talk would go around about her and Joseph?

Despite these concerns Mary readily accepted God’s plan and purpose for her life. In humble obedience she submitted herself to God’s will. She did not ask any more questions or raise any objections. She offered herself to God for him to use for his purpose and his glory. “I am the Lord’s servant.”

Mary is a fine example for us. In another week we will enter a new year. 
Where God has expressed his will clearly in the Bible are you willing to obey what he has commanded? 
Where the path of duty is plain are you ready to walk in that path?
Are you willing to go anywhere and do anything in your service of the Lord?
Will you seek to please God and glorify him in all you do in all of next year?
Can you say; “I am the Lord’s servant. Use me as you will choose.”

Today we have come to worship God because of the birth of his Son through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We have focused on Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who was born to suffer and die for the sins of his people.

We look to Jesus who rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven and who will come again as the Judge of all people. 

This Christmas let’s give our full attention to Jesus Christ our Lord, born into this world as the Son of God from all eternity, who was “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.”  

Amen