Born of a Humble Virgin

Born of a Humble Virgin

God decides who will be allowed to rule… all authority and power ultimately are traceable back to Him. He ordains the powerful to exercise judgment and maintain some sense of order out of the possible chaos humans are inclined toward.

But, we also see that His great plan of salvation is worked out through the humble:  Israel a nation formed out of lowly slaves... David the shepherd exalted to rule... and God's selection of a humble teenage girl from a remote farming village to give birth to Jesus... God with us.

The humble setting of Jesus' birth tells us a lot about God's heart and character. He shows His own greatness not working through the mighty... the hyper intelligent... the super strong... the smooth operator... or the beautiful people. God chooses to work through those who respond to Him in faith… willing to entrust their life to Him.. rather than through worldly credentials.

Mary’s Response to God

Today, let’s look at Mary's response to the startling news announced to her by Gabriel.

She is humble, but she does not shrink back from service saying "I am not worthy" or, "I am not up to the task". She had questions and concerns, but she accepted the task assigned to her saying simply "I am the Lord's servant".

Mary uses the feminine form of the word servant [doule, whereas the male is doulos]. It makes sense because she is female... but also signifies a special and essential way of service to God... only available to women... to serve God through motherhood.

Luke 1:26-33 based on what we know of cultural customs of the 1st century, Mary was probably in her early teens. She lived in a small rural town out in the middle of nowhere, Nazareth. She is considered "highly favored/blessed". The favor and blessing is that she is allowed to participate in God's unfolding plan of salvation.

No indication is given that she is chosen because of personal merit, accomplishment, or behavior. What we will see is that she has the right attitude. Ready to serve God according to His will not her own.

The Birth of Jesus is Announced to Mary

Luke tells us its the 6th month... not meaning the 6th month of the year... but the 6th month of Mary's cousin Elizabeth's pregnancy [verse 36]. Elizabeth's pregnancy is significant because her child will grow up to be John the Baptist... but also because we are able to determine the time of year Elizabeth became pregnant... and therefore figure out what time of year Mary became pregnant. AND if we know that we can tell approximately what time of year Jesus was born.

SPOILER ALERT: its not December 25th... its some time around the fall festivals.  

Luke 1:5 tells us Elizabeth's husband Zechariah was of the priestly division of Abijah. This data point allows us to zero in on Zechariah’s time of service in the temple using other biblical and Talmudic sources URL .

Luke 1:23-24 If Elizabeth became pregnant right after the end of his scheduled time of service... then Elizabeth got pregnant late June or early July... Mary becomes pregnant 6 months later in December or January…then Jesus is born 9 months later in September.

Jesus' birth during the time of the fall festivals fits well with what Mary is told about this child's future. His name [Jesus] will mean God is Salvation, He will be given the throne of David... and His rule will never end. Sounds like the message of the Feast of Trumpets.

Luke 1:34-38 Mary's call to serve God through motherhood will be more than an ordinary pregnanacy 1) she will become pregnant even though she is a virgin [never had sex] 2) the child will be conceived by God the Father through the power of His holy spirit.

People were not credulous fools back then. They knew birth required a biological father. It was just as far fetched then as it is now. This pregnancy would defy social and biological norms. Mary's call to service would bring her great joy but also great testing and trial.

Conceived [Begotten] By The Holy Spirit

Here is yet another instance where the holy spirit cannot be considered a 3rd person of the Godhead. Logically speaking, Mary's child would not then be of "the Father"... it would be of some third party who stands outside of the recognizable family relationship of Father and Son. Considering the holy spirit as: the power of God through which He works... is the only way to make this equation work.

Genesis 1:24-28 all creatures reproduce after its own kind... the rabbit and the snake do not mate... mingle their DNA and produce a hybrid being. Cross species sex 1) does not produce children 2) is forbidden to humans by God's righteous law. Yet, through Mary, God has a Son... and so through the motherhood of this woman Mary we are shown the true relationship between God and human beings... we are not pets... we are nopt of a different species… we are of the same kind.

The Virgin Birth is Fundamental

A lot of ink has been spilled on the proposition of a virgin birth since it is so clearly beyond the bounds of the natural world. Critics see it as a weak point vulnerable to attack.

In a weak defense some try to harmonize the scriptures with human reason by arguing that the biblical statements in Luke and Mathew were  added later to conform to subsequent teachings of Paul. Some try to defend the scriptures by explaining the statements as ambiguous, or open to intepretation.

But the scriptures are not ambiguous...

Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew's version clearly states that there is no flesh and blood father.

Matthew 1:16 breaks the liguistic pattern of x the father of y when it comes to Joseph and Mary... shifting to the passive saying Jesus "was born" of Mary.

The virgin birth is fundamental to new covenant doctrine. If Jesus is not fully God then how can He pay for the sins of all humanity? ... then you are dead in your sins. If Jesus is not fully human then how could He be truly dead... how can He be the firstborn among many brethren? How can He be an example of how to live a Godly human life? The list goes on. 

The virgin birth provides the only logical, rational explanation of how Jesus could be fully God and fully human. Notice, I said rational and logical... not materially provable or falsifiable. Logic and materially provable are not the same.

Why a Virgin?

Virginity is an obvious symbol of spiritual purity... which is important. For Jesus to grow up without trespass against the covenant His parents would have to be righteous and observant to the covenant. Which they were. So there was an element of purity within Jesus own family [more in part 2].

Some like to make Mary's virginity an indication of her own personal sinlessness. But most young girls from good Jewish families were virgins before marriage. Mary's virginity was more of a cultural norm than personal virtue.

However, she was indeed a virgin, and Her virginity was a sign and a concrete proof that God was at work... that He was fulfilling His promise to save His people through a Messiah... that He was intervening in human affairs from beyond the material realm.

Consideration #1 If Mary had been a righteous married woman who was sexually active... maybe she'd even had children previously... she discovers she is pregnant and God says "this one is different its conceived through the power of my holy spirit". Mary [and her husband] would have a hard time understanding what that meant. They would probably just think.... God is putting a special blessing on our child.

The points I brought out earlier about God reproducing after His own kind, or the teaching about Jesus as fully human and fully God would become hazy and obscure.

Consideration #2 Mary would have known the baby was conceived without sexual intercourse... Joseph had received a direct revelation from Gabriel the messenger of God. But on top of those observations and revelations there were the verifiable signs of virginity [IE. an un broken hymen]. Mary would know she was not hallucinating, the midwife would know, Mary's mother might have wanted to verify her outrageous claims… and she could have.

God was doing something with Mary. Other people would have been able to back her up. We have no record that such things happened... but they would have been possible.

Mary's Faith

Mary had concrete evidence to look at… but she is noted for her faith.

Luke 1:39-45 Elizabeth also appears to have known. In verse 45 Elizabeth proclaims what ought to be seen as Mary's true virtue. When God's messenger spoke to her... she believed. She didn't laugh at the idea like Sarah... Mary believed.

We read earlier that she was troubled... she was even afraid. Mary had good reason to be afraid... many people would never believe that she hadn't had sex before her marriage. She would be subject to social shaming. The baby would be called a bastard child by some... which happened [John 8:40].  

Belief and faith doesn't mean we don't see, or don't think about the difficulties before us. It means we move forward with confidence. If Mary is to be esteemed it is for her willingness to believe God that we admire to her… and if we admire her, to follow her example.

Do I believe what I have heard from God… am I going to serve Him according to His will not my own. 

Mary's Song

Luke 1:46-49 Mary is well aware she is a humble nobody in the eyes of the world. What makes her significant is what God has called her to do. To give birth to... to nurture... to raise this child. Through her, God draws our attention to the importance of motherhood in His great plan.

The plan to bring many children into glory begins with motherhood… and service to God.

Luke 1:50 Mary's excitement is not for her own exaltation. It is for what she is about to do. It is for all who  fear God… accept His calling… and receive His grace and mercy.Through her would come the offspring of Abraham who would brings blessing to all peoples.

Luke 1:51-55 God works the most important elements of His plan o salvation through the humble of this world. Making it abundantly clear it is His power at work, not our own. Do not let your lack of status ni the world trouble you. You are part of something big.

Conclusion:

We do not worship Mary, we do not pray to her, but we should acknowledge her as blessed and highly esteemed not because of her personal merit, but through her faith, her belief, her confidence to serve God in the face of personal trial and trouble.