After hearing a series of unimaginable promises about her soon-to-be-conceived son, Mary asks Gabriel that obvious question in Luke 1:34, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” To Mary, the possibility of bearing a child is unimaginable.

Notice how Gabriel responds in 1:35, “And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” This verse is like a masterpiece of art in the museum of God’s truth, it deserves our deep gaze and rapt attention. Everything about our faith hangs on this truth.

WHY THE VIRGIN BIRTH MATTERS

How can a virgin bear a child? How can a human baby be a divine king? Answer according to Gabriel, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” The word for “overshadow” appears in the Old Testament when God hovers over the tabernacle, and then again at the Transfiguration when God “overshadows” the mountain. The Father will “overshadow” by the Spirit coming “upon” Mary.

And did you see the sovereign result of this sovereign working of God in 1:35, “therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” Do you see it? The divine sonship of Jesus depends on the virgin birth by the Spirit. This is why we can never say, as many people have throughout the centuries, that the virgin birth is a meaningless myth. If we lose it, Gabriel says we lose the divinity of Jesus. And if that happens we lose salvation.

To further cement certainty in Mary’s mind notice what Gabriel says next in 1:36-37, “And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Elizabeth, who carries John the Baptist in her belly, was old and barren. It was humanly impossible for Elizabeth to conceive, yet she has. And Mary will can trust in Gabriel’s word, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Our God is Lord of the impossible and unimaginable; the virgin birth is our perfect proof. Do you know a God who can do impossible things? Who performs wonder that science says are impossible? That logic says can’t come to pass? Or do you have a God who can only do what man’s knowledge says is possible to do?

REJOICE IN HUMILITY

Let’s see how Mary responds to the unimaginable promises of Gabriel in 1:38, “And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” Oh may our response to God’s surprising promises and power be like Mary’s, may He help us rejoice in humility. What’s your ordinary stance before God’s word? Is it one of prideful questioning? Fearful doubt? Or joyful humility?

When we see the baby king, let us rejoice! Rejoice from grace, for power, and in humility. Rejoice in the unimaginable birth of Jesus.

IN WONDER AND WORSHIP

Two weeks ago we celebrated Owen’s three-year-old birthday and one of my sisters got him some twelve inch long Avengers action figures. The joy of childhood delight is a wondrous thing to behold. Owen has never seen an Avengers movie or cartoon, but he does have Avengers pajamas and t-shirts and has watched two collective minutes of Avengers action on YouTube. But my how he loves Hulk, Captain American, Thor, and Iron Man. Well he opens up these actions figures at his birthday party and his face was the portrait of childlike wonder. Never before had he conceived of possessing these figures of power and courage.

The correlation to our souls stance towards Christ became so clear to me in that moment. When we come to the birth of Christ we come to the greatest gift of God; a savior born to die for sinners. Let me mention two things in closing that I long to be true of us as we come to the virgin birth.

Come in wonder. Oh how I long for Christ to captivate my attention – our attention. Captivation depends on wonderment. There is wonder aplenty in our text. As Thomas Watson says, “[Christ] was born of a virgin, that we might be born of God. He took our flesh, that He might give us His Spirit. He lay in the manger that we might lie in paradise. He came down from heaven, that He might bring us to heaven. And what was all this but love? If our hearts be not rocks, this love of Christ should affect us. Behold love that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:19)!”¹ What brings your soul delightful wonder? May the glory of Christ increasingly captivate you in wonder.

Come to worship. For most of us, one month or so of every year is spent walking on a road marked “Christmas: The King Has Come” and may we always follow it to the intended destination: worship. Come in wonder and come to worship. With newfound meaning and delight let us rejoice in the unimaginable birth of Jesus.

This post is adapted from my recent sermon, “The Baby King,” on Luke 1:26-38.