“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Matthew 1:23
The birth of the Messiah stands as the most significant event in human history. His birth was one of humility, He came as a vulnerable baby and was born in a manger. The birth was prophesied and anticipated by generations. It was not merely a historical event but the fulfilment of God’s promise.
THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH
The birth of Jesus Christ unfolded miraculously. An angel had revealed to Mary that she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit, despite being a virgin. The child would be the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God. Mary humbly accepted God’s plan, saying, “I am the Lord’s servant” (Luke 1:38).
Mary was a virgin engaged to be married to Joseph. She was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit before they came together. Joseph initially struggled to understand but accepted it in faith after an angel explained to him in a dream that it was God’s divine work. This divine event fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, meaning ‘God with us’” (Isa 7:14).
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS BIRTH
The Lord Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, revealing His divinity and humanity. He was fully man and fully God. He did not inherit the sinful nature, making Him the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for sin, capable of reconciling humanity with God. His miraculous conception reveals that He is truly the Son of God, sent into the world to reveal God’s nature and accomplish His divine mission (Luke 1:35). The birth of Christ marks the moment when God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, demonstrating His deep desire to be in relationship with humanity and provide the means for eternal salvation (John 1:14).
GOD IS WITH US
The name Immanuel means God is with us. It is not just a name but a reality we live in daily. It highlights that God has come to dwell among His people. From the beginning of creation, God’s greatest desire has been to dwell among His people (Exo 29:45-46). He fulfilled it by taking on human form through Christ (1 Tim 3:16). Even after His ascension, God’s presence remains with us through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (John 14:16-17). God is with us in every joy, every struggle and every step of our lives. What a joy it is to know that God is with us, and He will never leave us nor forsake us!
The miraculous virgin birth marks the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies and God’s divine plan for salvation. It was the beginning of a relationship with God that will last forever (Rev 21:3). As we reflect on this event, may we be filled with gratitude and hope, knowing that God is always with us.
Further study: Matthew 1:18-25
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