| “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” |
| —Isaiah 7:14 |
I’ve recently mentioned that the entire Bible is devoted to a narrative that rises to or flows from the Incarnation. The hearts and minds of millions upon millions of believers continues to receive energy from the reality that God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son to pay the penalty for our sins. (John 3:16)
The Prophet Isaiah, through the 66 chapters that make up the Old Testament Book that bears his name, has continually pointed toward the Incarnation. For example, we find these words in Isaiah 7:14:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
The virgin birth is an absolutely essential truth of the Incarnation. Through this miracle, Jesus retains His holiness as one of the three persons of the Godhead—fully God—and yet becomes fully human. We cannot overlook the importance of the virgin birth. Nor can we overlook the importance of the young virgin Jewish girl whom God chose to bear His Son.
We Protestants tend to shy away from acknowledging the role Mary played in this cosmic drama. We do so rooted in long ago reaction that took place during the Reformation. Yet, Mary embodies obedience to God’s calling on her life. She sets an amazing example for all who follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
So, as we consider this miraculous time of year, let us not forget the extreme importance of the miracle of the Incarnation. Part of the joy of this season comes from the excitement surrounding the miracle of Jesus’ birth.
Let us bask in that joy and allow the excitement of the season to fill our hearts and minds, reminding us of this magnificent gift God has freely given to us—Immanuel, God with us.
Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2016
