King of creation came into the world as a human

The importance of virgin birth refers to the belief that Jesus was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, without a human father. It signifies the belief that Jesus is not merely a human being, but the Son of God. It signifies that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. The absence of a human father in His conception emphasizes His unique and divine nature, setting Him apart from ordinary human beings. It shows that salvation does not come from man, but from God. Salvation is completely the work of God and is a free gift from God to mankind not something that can be achieved through human efforts. This doctrine highlights the dependence of humanity on the grace and mercy of God for redemption.

Prophecies about Jesus birth:

Prophecy: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2). Fulfillment: Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew (Matthew 2:1) and Luke (Luke 2:4-7).

Prophecy: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14). Fulfillment: Jesus’ birth to the virgin Mary is described in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:18-25) and the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:26-35).

Prophecy: “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots, a Branch will bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1). Fulfillment: Jesus is believed to be from the lineage of Jesse, the father of King David, as highlighted in the genealogies in the Gospels of Matthew (Matthew 1:1-17) and Luke (Luke 3:23-38).

Prophecy: “The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14). Fulfillment: Jesus is referred to as Immanuel, meaning “God with us,” in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:23).

Prophecy: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” (Numbers 24:17). Fulfillment: The birth of Jesus was marked by the appearance of a special star, which led the wise men to find Him in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-2, Matthew 2:9-10).

Virgin Birth:

In Matthew 1:18, it is stated that Mary was found to be pregnant “before they came together,” indicating that she conceived the child before she and Joseph had engaged in sexual relations or consummated their marriage. The mention of Mary’s pregnancy being by the Holy Spirit emphasizes the miraculous nature of Jesus’ conception. The purpose of highlighting Mary’s pregnancy by the Holy Spirit and the timing of it being before Mary and Joseph came together is to emphasize the divine origin and nature of Jesus. It signifies that Jesus is not an ordinary child but the Son of God. It reinforces the belief in Jesus’ divine nature and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah.

Joseph Mary engagement:

In the first century, engagements were indeed more binding than they are in the twenty-first century. Once a couple was engaged, it carried legal and social obligations similar to a marriage contract. During this period, the engaged couple was considered legally bound. In the case of Joseph and Mary, their engagement followed this cultural norm. Mary’s unexpected pregnancy before their marriage was a delicate situation. Joseph, being a righteous man, initially contemplated handling the matter discreetly to avoid publicly shaming Mary. The angel’s visit to Joseph, as described in the Gospel of Matthew, provided him with divine guidance and assurance. The angel addressed Joseph as “son of David,” emphasizing his lineage from the royal line of King David. Joseph’s decision to quietly divorce Mary demonstrated his compassion and righteousness. It showed his desire to protect Mary from public disgrace while still addressing the apparent breach of trust in their relationship. This decision also highlights Joseph’s obedience to the angel’s message, ultimately leading him to continue with the marriage to Mary and to play a crucial role in raising Jesus as his legal and adoptive father.