The Meaning of the Birth of Jesus

The virgin conception is not a Christianized version of pagan mythology, nor an odd tale of God’s one time enterprise of running a Galilean fertility clinic for teenage girls. The virgin conceptions tells us about Israel’s hopes coming true, God’s Son made flesh, the Spirit’s power in Jesus’ life, a new world dawning, and God’s victory over Satan through the off-spring of Eve. In short, the historical Christian faith is a Christmas faith, celebrating the fact that God became one of us through the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing Mary’s body. It’s a glorious story about God’s Spirit, Mary’s womb, God’s Word made flesh, and angel’s singing “peace on earth.”