Lessons from Matthew 1: Supernatural Conception of Jesus Christ
Let’s take a look at the Supernatural Conception of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1 verses 18-21
Since Matthew has proven to his audience in part 1 of this series that indeed Jesus is a Jew and has come forth from the royal line. He now moves forward in giving his audience the facts about Jesus birth; the unusual facts, facts that point us to weigh the evidence and conclude this was no ordinary birth or we should say conception, and therefore certainly no ordinary man.
Join me in Matthew 1:18 “this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: his mother Mary was pledged to be married”
There were 3 steps in a Jewish marriage.
First, the 2 families had to agree to the union.
Second a public announcement was made. And at this point, the couple was considered, “pledged” to one another. What we would consider engaged in today’s vernacular or committed to one another. The difference then from today was that their relationship could only be broken through death or divorce.
Third the couple was married and began living together.
So because Mary and Joseph were pledged to one another and this had been made public when she was found with child this was both troubling and disheartening to Joseph. Yet we are told in v.18 that Mary’s pregnancy was no ordinary conception, “but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.”
The baby within her had not been conceived by human efforts. No the child within her had been conceived of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead. This was no ordinary conception, a once in history event.
The supernatural conception of Jesus and His birth are events beyond our human logic or reasoning. That is where our faith and trust in God and His inspired word come into action. God says it and we believe it! Even when it’s beyond our thoughts, imagination or explanation!
Because this was beyond human comprehension or human explanation God sent His messengers, His angels to help both Mary and Joseph to understand what was happening!
God’s messengers the angels
Before we go on, I would like to stop and discuss this matter of angels. I saw a bumper sticker on a car just last week that read, “I love angels” and I wondered do they love God or His created beings more.
Angels, God’s angels are supernatural beings created by God and their purpose is to obey God and carry out His messages to others as God sees fit! Therefore angles are God’s appointed messengers, God’s created beings and thus angels are not to be worshipped or praised. That privilege is reserved for God alone. The worshiping of angels is just another ploy of the Devil to steel our attention and affection away from God.
We can be thankful to God for the witnessing of His created beings but we are not to give undue attention or praise unto them. There are both angels of God whose messages will line up with scripture and angels or cohorts of the Devil who will deny God and His words. So know the difference by knowing who God is and what He says and then you will not likely be led astray!
“All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.” Revelation 7:11
Angel Gabriel appears to Mary
Luke 1:26 tells us that God sent His angel Gabriel to Mary and he greeted her and told her that she was highly favored in God’s eyes, and that God was with her. Understandably Mary, being a young girl was troubled by the angel, Gabriel’s words.
Luke tells us that, “she wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” And Gabriel tried to calm her fears and said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you will give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.”
And after hearing, the angel Gabriel’s words, Mary simply inquires, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” It was a reasonable question since the only way to birth a child was to conceive first and since she was a virgin she asked how this would take place. Gabriel, the angel of God answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the One to be born will be called the Son of God…Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who is said to be barren is in her 6th month. For nothing is impossible with God, Mary.”
Now what’s interesting is that this is taken from Luke’s account…Luke was a medical doctor and would have understood what a complete miracle this would be…a virgin conceiving a child without sexual relations…a complete and utter work of God through His Holy Spirit!
And Mary responded to God’s call on her life through the angel Gabriel, by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant, May it be unto me as you have said.” And upon her acceptance to God’s call, Gabriel, the angel of God left.
Mary was young, she came from a poor family and she was a female. Nothing to spectacular and nothing more than an average or maybe considered by some back then a less than average young woman. She was not perfect because we are told that all are born with a sinful nature until the Spirit of God quickens us from within but God chose her.
He chose her not because she was more righteous than others, but rather because she was highly favored, meaning His chose Mary not according to her goodness but according to His grace. Which He would see was going to be sufficient to see her through. After hearing these words of God through His messenger, Mary submits herself to God’s will and accepts His call on her life!!!!
Talk about a miracle!!!! Talk about faith to believe!!! Talk about a willing heart to lay down her own life and follow God’s.
How about you? What is God asking you to do for Him?
Are you willing to follow out of obedience like Mary no matter what the cost is to you?
Terri Hamman
Faith & Fitness Coach