Birth of God’s Son
—And “God with us”
Time ~ 10. Coming of the Son of God
Span ~ 30 years
Books ~ Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Figures ~ John the Baptizer, Jesus
Begins with ~ Birth of Jesus
Ends with ~ Death of Jesus
Ascendant empire ~ Rome
1 God’s True Promise
God had sworn to Abraham and to David that the Christ would be born. The prophets indicated that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, of a virgin, while the Romans were in power. This came true when Jesus was born to Mary and God's Son became a human being.
The angel's statement to Mary (Luke 1:26-33) is made from the very perspective of the Times of Israel that we have been following. The promised king —the Messiah or Christ— was to reign over Israel in an endless kingdom.
2 God in the Flesh
In John chapter one the fact of the coming of the Son of God is stated most emphatically:
"The Word became flesh, and lived awhile among us, and we saw his splendour, the splendour of the Unique One, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14)
The angel who spoke to Mary was also emphatic:
"And behold you shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High God. And the Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end." (Luke 1:26-33)
3 Bible Summary (The Gospels)
- Existence before became flesh (John 1:1-5, 9-13)
- Human ancestry (Matthew 1:1-17 Luke 3:23-38)
- Angel speaks to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
- Mary's visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
- Angel speaks to Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25)
- Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-7 John 1:14)
- Angels speak to shepherds (Luke 2:8-20)
- Circumcision and naming (Luke 2:21 Matthew 1:25)
- Presentation at the temple (Luke 2:22-39)
- Visit of the wise men (Matthew 2:1-12)
- Flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-18)
- Return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23)
- As a child (Luke 2:40)
- Visit to Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-51)
- As a youth (Luke 2:52)
- The above events took place from 5 BC to AD 8
4 Prophecy Fulfilled
Virginal conception Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:14, #Luke 1:26-38
Seed of a woman Galatians 4:4, Matthew 1:21, Genesis 3:15
Seed of Abraham Luke 1:72-73, Genesis 12:3, Genesis 22:16-18
Seed of Isaac and Jacob Luke 3:34, Genesis 17:19, Genesis 21:12, Numbers 24:17
Of the tribe of Judah Luke 3:34, Genesis 49:10
Son of David Matthew 1:1 2Samuel 7:12-14
Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:4-6, Micah 5:2
Born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:26-28
Infant in Egypt Matthew 2:13-15, Hosea 11:1
Massacre of children Matthew 2:16-18, Jeremiah 31:15
Boyhood in Nazareth Matthew 2:23 (oral prophecy)
Declared God's Son Psalms 2:7, Matthew 3:17, Luke 1:35
Given the name above all names Isaiah 9:6, Philippians 2:9
Heir to David's throne Isaiah 9:7, Luke 1:32-33, Acts 2:30-36
Eternal God upon the throne Psalms 45:6-7, Psalms 102:25-27, Hebrews 1:8-12
5 The “Virgin” Birth
In some translations the word "almah" in Hebrew is rendered "maiden" or "young woman" rather than "virgin" (Isaiah 7:14). However, the Holy Spirit's translation (Matthew 1:23) is the Greek word for "virgin" showing that the Holy Spirit approves of using the word "virgin" (or its equivalent in the language of translation) to render the Isaiah passage.
In addition to this, not using the word "virgin" makes the Isaiah passage meaningless. How could it be a "sign" for a young woman to get pregnant and to give birth if she were not a virgin?