tion. The process of the birth itself would have questioned (unsuccessfully) the behold when we see him face-to-face.
be the same for Him as for all humans. Hebrew word almah in Isaiah 7:14, saying The validity of the Virgin Birth often
The difference would rest in the manner of it does not always mean ‘virgin.’ Howev- comes under attack. Both the philosophi-
His conception. His conception would be er, there is absolutely no doubt whatsoev- cal and scientific viewpoints of this event
like no other person’s would ever be. It is er about the Greek word for ‘virgin,’ hold that such an event is contrary to the
vital to understand this distinction. He was which is parthenos, and always, without laws of nature, and therefore is impossi-
not only as completely God as though He exception, refers to a young girl totally ble. However, the Christian attitude
had never been man, but He was also as devoid of sexual experiences.” regarding the scientific possibility of such
completely man as though He had never In The Moody Handbook of Theology an event depends on one’s viewpoint
been God. From the miraculous union of (p. 233), one reads: “The word incarnation regarding prophecies found in the Old
divine and human natures, Jesus, the Son means ‘in flesh’ and denotes the act Testament, the testimony of those direct-
of God, was to be born. whereby the eternal Son of God took to ly involved in the event as recorded in
The miracle of the Incarnation was Himself an additional nature, humanity, the New Testament, and a belief in the
that a little over 2,000 years ago in the through the Virgin Birth. The result is miraculous. If we believe in the deity of
city of Nazareth, after being visited by the that Christ remains forever unblemished Christ and in scriptural miracles, we
angel of God, a young virgin girl who had deity, which He has had from eternity should have no doubts regarding the bib-
never had a sexual experience became past; but He also possesses true, sinless lical description of the Virgin Birth as
“with child.” Nothing like this had ever humanity in one person forever.” recorded in the Word of God.
happened before, and it will never hap- Jesus did not come into existence in The question “How can this be?” was
pen again. Bethlehem’s manger. He has always exist- not one asked only by Mary, but it has
“Behold, the virgin shall become preg- ed! When Jesus said, “Before Abraham been repeated by many over the ages. Our
nant and give birth to a Son, and they was, I am” (John 8:58, KJV). He was not human minds have difficulty rationalizing
shall call His name Emmanuel—which, only speaking of His preexistence but also the answer. However, by faith, we can join
when translated, means, God with us” of His eternalness. with Gabriel in saying, “All things are pos-
(Matthew 1:23). This prophecy was of When God the Son joined Himself to sible with God.” We do not have to under-
course a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14: “There- a body, it was an eternal arrangement. He stand it; we must simply believe it.
fore the Lord Himself shall give you a will continue to manifest Himself in that
sign: Behold, the young woman who is body, in its resurrected state throughout *Unless otherwise noted, scriptures are
unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and the ages. It will always be a glorified from the Amplified Version.
bear a son, and shall call his name body, but still a body of flesh and bone
Immanuel (God with us).” as He told His disciples in the Upper Elizabeth Sikes, writer, evangelist, confer-
Dr. Harold Wilmington (Wilmington’s Room (Luke 24). The eternalness of His ence and seminar speaker, writes from Kings-
Guide to the Bible, p. 272) states: “Some human, glorified body is one that we shall land, Georgia.
My Most Memorable Christmas • Calvin Eastham
Paper Snowflakes
LTC (Chap-
lain) Calvin
PAPER SNOWFLAKES and Christmas Eve of 1990 will always be linked for me. After arriving in Iraq as part of
Eastham
Operation Desert Shield, we moved into the desert in late December. A few days later we took time for a Christ-
writes and
mas Eve service in the mess tent.
remembers
As I went from tent to tent checking on soldiers and inviting them to the service, I found several who were
from Lawton,
putting up garland and stockings. The command group drivers were the most creative, with their paper snow-
Oklahoma.
flakes decorating a wire and camouflage Christmas tree.
At the service, soldiers sang as if they were the herald angels. They prayed with love for their families and
compassion for their enemies. The Holy Spirit’s presence was wonderful, strong, unmistakable.
Each year now, I cut out a paper snowflake and remember those soldiers and that very special Christmas in
the Saudi desert.
EVANGEL • DEC 2008 9
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