The Bible holds within its sacred passages certain subjects that stir great controversy, particularly among those who do not embrace the faith. Many such individuals work in my field, the medical profession. Two particularly troubling topics are the miraculous virgin birth and the resurrection of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. For our present purposes, our focus shall centre on the virgin birth as we endeavour to understand its place in the redemptive plan crafted by God the Father for the salvation of humanity.

During the time of Moses at Mount Sinai, God made the provision that sacrifices would be acceptable for the forgiveness of an individual’s sin or even for the entire nation, but only if the sacrificial animal was without blemish (Leviticus 1:3b). However, Hebrews teaches us that this was always only a temporary pro- vision, evidenced by the need for these sacrifices to be offered over and over again (Hebrews 10:1-4). So what were these unblemished sacrifices pointing to? Could there be an immaculate sacrifice capable of bearing away the sins of the world in perpetuity?

Sin entered the world with Adam’s disobedience in Genesis 3, and, since then, it has wielded dominion over humanity, being transmitted through generations much like inherited diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and certain types of cancers. In fact, we are born with the stain of sin upon our very DNA (Romans 3:23). This inherited nature inclines us towards evil, even without formal instruction to do so.

Herein lies the significance of the prophecy made by the ancient prophet Isaiah regarding the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14). According to His divine plan, God chose Mary to bear the child in her womb, eventually giving birth in a humble manger at the appointed time. This unique virgin birth sets Jesus apart from the rest of humanity, for there is no transmission of the sinful nature through His DNA, as is the case with ordinary human conception. Consequently, Jesus was born sinless and without blemish, making Him the acceptable sacrifice in the eyes of God, as proclaimed by John the Baptist (John 1:29). Today, we bow in awe before our God and offer our worship, acknowledging what He has accomplished through the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ, for the redemption of humanity.

May this understanding of the necessity of the virgin birth illuminate our hearts during this Christmas season and quiet our doubts concerning the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He came at the perfect time and in the perfect way to be our way to reconciliation and eternal life with God (John 14:6). Let us rejoice in the divine gift of redemption bestowed upon us through the miraculous birth of Jesus, a testament to God’s unwavering love for humanity.