Christmas is more than parties, pine trees, and presents. At its core, Christmas is the story of a supernatural conception through a virgin girl from Nazareth named Mary.It’s the celebration of the God-man coming to earth to offer redemption to a sin-sick world. Yet, in spite of this heavenly good news, human skeptics abound.
Famous atheists like Madalyn Murray O’Hair or even Voltaire were not the first people to express their skepticism. In fact, the first expressions of skepticism came from Mary and Joseph themselves.
The two most common objections to the miracle of the virgin birth are rooted in the biological impossibility of a “virgin birth,” or a moral indictment on Mary’s purity.
Mary was the first person to suggest biological impossibility and Joseph was the first to contemplate immoral behavior on Mary’s part.
Literally, from the moment the angel Gabriel appeared to young Mary, there have been skeptics.
Luke 1 records the dialogue between Gabriel and Mary. After the angel explains God’s plan for Mary’s womb, she asks, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” She is saying, “A virgin conception is biologically impossible.”
Powerfully, Gabriel responds to her objection by saying, “For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)
In Matthew 1 we read that Joseph was the first person to surmise that Mary had been immoral. His initial response to her pregnancy was to break off their espousal/engagement. He loved her and the Bible says he didn't want to make her a public example so he was planning to “put her away privily.” Naturally, he concluded that Mary had cheated on him and had been with another man.
While Joseph was thinking on these things, Matthew 1 explains that “the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying "Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”
This Christmas, you may be a skeptic.
In contrast to Mary, Gabriel isn’t likely to make an appearance to you to resolve your skepticism. Unlike with Joseph, “the angel of the Lord” is probably not going to proclaim anything to you in a dream.
However, God is currently offering a proclamation to you through His written Word. I invite you to take time this Christmas to study closely Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1 & 2. As you study, you will discover that Luke, the author of the third book of the New Testament and the book of Acts, was a physician and a world-class historian.
You will realize that the Old Testament prophets predicted the virgin birth centuries before it took place. (Isaiah 7:14).
As you read, you will notice that the first century Christians universally believed in the miracle of the virgin birth.
Yet, the most startling thing that you will discover about the virgin birth is that to reject this miracle (or any of Christ’s claims) means you are headed to an eternal hell.
The reason that Jesus was born was so that sinners can go to heaven. He came to earth, and lived a sinless life so that He could eventually die a substitutionary death. That death on the cross offers atonement for your sins and mine.
He was born of a virgin so that He could conquer death and offer us everlasting life in heaven with Him. Admit that you are a sinner and call upon Christ to be your Savior today. The gift of eternal life is truly the best gift you can receive this Christmas.
James C. Johnson is pastor of Pine Forest Estates Baptist Church in Pensacola. To offer him your feedback, you can email him at firstname.lastname@example.org.