In our Christmas Candlelight service, we looked at THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHRIST’S BIRTH to Mary in Luke 1:26-38. The “angel Gabriel was sent by God” to this young “virgin” lady before she had been married to her fiancé, “Joseph” (Luke 1:26-27), and he announced, in fulfillment of prophecy, Mary had been chosen by God to bear the One who would reverse the effects of sin and death brought into the universe through the sin of Adam (Luke 1:28, 31; Isa. 7:14; Gen. 3:15; Rom. 5:12-21, etc.).
The only human explanation for Mary (Joseph’s fiancé) being pregnant with child was that she had been unfaithful (Luke 1:34). Joseph, as “a just [or righteous] man” in that culture was allowed to “put her away” (i.e. divorce Mary) before their marriage had occurred (Matt. 1:18-19), but God also sent an angel to him explaining his betrothed was still a virgin and that the child “conceived in her [was supernaturally] of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:20). The miraculous virgin birth (Luke 1:37) shows us this Child is the sinless “Son of God” and in that way is necessary for all Christians to believe (Luke 1:27, 35; Matt. 1:24-25; Eph. 2:8-9, etc.). “For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12; Heb. 4:15-16; 1 Pet. 3:18; John 1:29b; 3:7, 16; 14:6, etc.).
This is also why both Mary and Joseph were told they were to name God’s child “JESUS” because “He [would] save [all those who come to Him by grace through faith] from their sins” (Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:31; Rev. 22:17, etc.). One day “the Lord God will give [Jesus] the throne of His father David” in Jerusalem when He returns and He will reign forever (Luke 1:32-33; Acts 1:11; Rev. 19:11-21; 1 Cor. 15:20-26, etc.), but in the meantime Jesus as “Immanuel… God with us” is Yahweh/Jehovah- I AM THAT I AM (Matt. 1:23; John 1:1-5, 9, 14; Ex. 3:14 KJV; John 8:58; 18:4-6, etc.). He is “the true Light which gives light to every man (and woman)” and He also makes us as His children “the light of the world” as we hold up the glorious gospel light not wanting any to “perish” (John 1:9; 3:3, 7; 8:12; James 1:17; 1 John 1:5; 2 Pet. 3:8-9; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Matt. 5:13-16; 28:18-20, etc.)