Q:
Why did the Bible writers say that Jesus was born of a virgin? I know they lived thousands of years ago, but didn't they know that things like this just don't happen?
A:
I can assure you they were just as aware of the facts of life as we are; they knew both a mother and a father were necessary to bring a child into the world. And Mary knew it also, which is why she was deeply troubled and asked the angel who told her she’d give birth to the Saviour, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (Luke 1:34, NKJV).
And yet the Bible assures us that Jesus had no human father –because His true Father was God. By a miracle that only God could bring about, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. Why did God do this? The reason was to stress the uniqueness of Jesus, for He alone –out of every person who had ever been born, or ever would be born –was the sinless Son of God.
It’s interesting, incidentally, that the fullest account of Jesus’ virgin birth was recorded by Luke, a medical doctor. If anyone knew a virgin birth was humanly impossible it was Luke, and yet he had no doubt that Mary’s account was absolutely true.
What difference should Jesus’ virgin birth make to us? It should point us to Jesus –who was both fully God and fully man. Most of all, it should remind us why He came into the world: to become the final and complete sacrifice for our sins. Don’t ignore Him or see Him only as another great person. He came to give His life for you. This Christmas why not give your life to Him in return?