We have heard the story about Jesus being conceived through Mary, a virgin woman and the Holy Spirit. However, have you asked yourself why is this important to know? What does this proof? Let’s consider the following points about the importance of the birth of Jesus.

1. Birth of Jesus was prophesied
   • One of the key facts we know based on the bible and historical documents is that Jesus’ birth was prophesied.
   • Genesis 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
   • From the very beginning, right after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, God gave indication that a savior would be coming from the seed of the woman, Eve. God revealed right away that this seed would be the one that would crush the head of the serpent. We know that seed pointed to Jesus. The time of his writing isn’t one hundred percent certain, but is estimated to be about 1500 years before Christ was born.
   • Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel.”
   • This Scripture points to the manner in which he will born, and also to one of the names given to Christ: Emmanuel, meaning God with us. This was pointing to both his human birth and his divine nature. This was written over 700 years before Christ was born.
2. Jesus had a prophesied purpose
   • Matthew 2: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
   • The Magi came from the East to Jerusalem looking for the king of Jews. Who were these Magi and how did they know Jesus was to be born around that time?
   • It is important to take note that these were men of Scripture reading the face of the “prophetic sky,” and the original Gospel message in the stars, not pagan astrologers reading some hidden occult wisdom by means of pagan astrology.
   • We can understand that these Magi were knowledgeable about the insights given by Daniel concerning the timing of the Messiah’s birth and death.
   • Daniel 9: 24-27: “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 
   • These Magi further demonstrated their great learning and knowledge of Messiah and His mission by the gifts they brought. Gifts were always brought to a king or an important official.
   • Gold was a common gift for a King. By this they declared their understanding of His royal lineage, both earthly and Heavenly. Incense was offered only to a God (pagan kings, declaring themselves gods, often demanded incense from their subjects). By this act they declared their understanding that He was Emmanuel, which means, “God with us.”  By bringing myrrh, the bitter herb of death and burial, they revealed their understanding of Daniel’s prophecy that the “Anointed One” would be put to death. They knew He was the Sacrifice for the sins of mankind—King, God and Sacrifice all in One!
3. Jesus, Son of God
   • The last point that should be consider is the importance of Mary being a virgin when she conceived Jesus. Jesus did not have a natural father, since he was conceived through the Holy Spirit. Which means that Jesus is the first person to be part human and part divine nature. The identity of Jesus is like no other. A sinless person that innocently died for our sins demonstrates the ultimate sacrifice for love.

Now, we can determine that Jesus’ birth and time on Earth was not random. Jesus, the Son of God, did not come to Earth to live a luxurious life. Jesus did not come to attend concerts, parties, or expensive dinners. He came to set captives free, heal the sick and deliver people from demons. He came to put an end to sin through the flesh.

Romans 8:3-5: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Jesus came to crucify sin through the flesh and dismantle the stronghold of sin within us, so that we would not continue to live one moment longer submitted to sin’s power. Jesus, our savior. Our God that became a man to save our souls and allow us the opportunity to live through the Holy Spirit.

All Glory to God!

References:

11 Old testament prophecies of jesus’ birth and death (2023) biblestudytools.com. Available at: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/times-the-old-testament-predicts-jesus-birth-and-death.html (Accessed: 18 June 2023).