Message Two: “… And Bear a Son”

Celebrating the Coming of the Messiah – 2004 – “The Doctrine of the Virgin Birth”

TEXT: Isaiah 7:14 – Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee – December 12^th, 19^th, and 24^th, 2004

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:

Behold, the virgin shall conceive

and bear a Son,

and shall call His name Immanuel….”

Luke 2:1-20 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. ⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. ⁶ So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" ¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

The Virgin Shall Bear a Son

Our text this morning is only four English words based on two Hebrew words, “bear” and “son.” Both of the Hebrew words are very commonly used throughout the Old Testament. The first one, “bear,” means to give birth. The second one is simply the normal word for a son. She will give birth to a son.

While these are normal words, the event that they foretold was very extraordinary because of the details that would only become truly clear when the prophecy was fulfilled. Last week when we considered Isaiah’s prophecy that “the virgin shall conceive,” immediately after that message we sang the hymn “Immortal, Invisible, God-Only Wise.” I chose that hymn because of the amazing truth that the baby conceived in Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit was the divine Son of God. In His divine nature He had all of the holiness, wisdom, power, and love of God the Father. This point struck me recently while I was listening to an Elisabeth Elliot tape. She expressed her amazement that the King of Kings was confined to the womb of a young woman. What an amazing love!

Last week, as we were considering the miraculous virginal conception of Jesus Christ, we looked at Joseph’s perspective using Matthew 1. This morning I want to consider the words “and bear a son” from Mary’s perspective. By the way, how do we know what Mary’s perspective was? The opening verses of Luke tell us that this companion of the Apostle Paul used eyewitness sources as well as the preaching of ministers of the word in order to put together His gospel.

Luke 1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, ² just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, ³ it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

Luke’s account included many details that only the mother of Jesus could have known. Consider for example verse 19 of chapter 2 which tells us that “Mary kept all of these things and pondered them in her heart.” Only Mary knew this, and somehow Luke found this out and included it in His inspired writing of these great events.

One thing is very clear from Luke’s record. The coming of the Messiah was by God’s appointment. How so? His birth was at just the right time. Galatians 4:4: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman.” That time included a census ordered by a Roman governor, causing Mary and Joseph to be in just the right place. It was by God’s appointment that the Son of Mary would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” They went back to the city of David, because they were his descendants. It was by God’s appointment that the Messiah would be the Son of David the King. As God had promised in 2 Samuel 7:13, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

It was also by God’s appointment that the eternal Messiah would be born in a low condition, as described in Luke’s account. This is something of a pride-killer. If we want to succeed in the world we think of gaining an attachment to someone in a high position. As he succeeds so will we. In Christ we have been united to a lowly man, at least in the way that the world measures worth. Even beyond the humble circumstances of his birth, Paul tells us that our greatest boast is to be in the death of Jesus Christ, the death of a capital criminal. This is the One we are united to. He is the Son of God, but He is also truly the Son of man – and a low man at that – low in His birth, and very low in His death. Yet Jesus says that when He is lifted up from the earth (through His cursed death on the cross), He will draw all peoples to Himself, and this by God’s appointment. But more on God’s appointment of this birth of a Son…

It was by God’s appointment that angels would appear to shepherds instead of coming to kings. These shepherds would be the first bearers of good tidings to others. In this way God appointed that this great joy would first be announced to all nations from those humble pastors. That is what the name pastor means – shepherd. Finally, it was by God’s appointment that woman, a true daughter of Eve, would give birth to a Son who was the Son of God. This baby would thus be the Son of Man, the long-expected Seed of the Woman who would crush the head of the serpent at great cost to Himself.

Genesis 3:15 ¹⁵ And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

The Humiliation of the Son of God

The Son of God became man. We don’t like to be brought low. None of us really enjoying seeing our sin or weakness. We don’t like failing or looking foolish or defeated in front of others. While everything about Jesus Christ is perfect and victorious, the victory of the Lord is not accomplished in the way that men win. This is a big part of the truth that can be seen in the birth of this Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is something called His humiliation – the voluntary lowering of Himself in His becoming man, and ultimately in His death for us as the righteous substitute for sinners.

How can we come to understand what God has done for us in the humiliation of His only-begotten Son? Perhaps a human example will help us as we try to relate. The great King David was the Israelite King to whom God made the greatest promise. God told him that one of his sons would be on the throne forever. David had several sons. One of them was named Absalom. David’s lowest moment came when his son Absalom tried to take the kingdom away from him. Absalom had used charm and subtlety to win the hearts of the people. He engaged in a massive conspiracy against his father.

At one point David decides that he must leave the royal city, the place of high honor as the king of Israel, in order to preserve the kingdom. Imagine the horror of that moment. David deeply loved his son Absalom, and would later mourn his death with great sadness when the rebel was killed. His own dear boy was doing everything he could to destroy his father and to take away his kingdom! David had to leave his own city for a time like a fugitive. This was David’s humiliation. He was brought low.

Now think of what Jesus did for you. Christ was in highest heaven adored from all eternity. His height was far above the ancient city of David. And his low was far lower than the shame of David leaving his home. As Charles Wesley wrote about Jesus so many years ago, “He left his Father's throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!), humbled himself (so great his love!), and bled for all his chosen race. 'Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me. Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”

The Sympathy of the Son of God

Wesley brings us exactly where the Scriptures bring us in considering this great voluntary humiliation of the Son of God for us. What sympathy for us in our need! What love! Our salvation could not have been accomplished without the Son of God being born of a woman. He was willing to do this. He was willing to live and die for us. Hebrews 2:18 says, “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 4:15-16 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

The Son of God was made man for us. He was born of a woman. The great Law-Giver was born under the Law. He faced the miseries of this life and ultimately the wrath of God, the cursed death of the cross and burial. He knows your struggles. He is more than able to sympathize, and to raise you unto glory. Are you being brought low through illness or disappointment? He will not leave you in your point of weakness. The One who was born of a Virgin and who died on a cross is able to sympathize and save.