Christmas Advent Devotional Day 3: " A Sinless Sign"




Isaiah 7:14

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.  (NKJV)

 

The prophet Isaiah foretold three important facts about the coming Messiah that would help seekers to identify Him when He came:

  1. The child would be born of a virgin- a person who biologically was incapable of having a child.
  2. The virgin would not only conceive the child, but she would also bear and give birth to Him while still pure. (This is another signpost for humanity.)
  3. He would be called Immanuel.
What an improbable birth story!  Who could possibly meet those requirements?

 Matthew 1:18-25

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

24Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

 

What is the importance of the virgin birth in the Christmas account?  Never having “known” a man, (KJV for sexual purity) Mary’s child would be half human- her contribution, and half divine- God’s contribution.  He would be a God-man. Through a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, she would have the King of Kings and Lord of Lords placed inside her womb!

Only a pure, perfect, spotless lamb would be qualified to make atonement for the sin of humanity. Humans are born with a sin nature, but because Jesus is God, and because His deity was uncorrupted, He was able to live sinlessly. His power and purity were undiluted by sin. This qualified Him to be acceptable as our sin offering.

Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would be called Immanuel.  This is not a name, but rather a title.  Jesus will be called many things- the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Word, the Son... all are true.  The name Jesus translates to "God saves." With the fall of man in Genesis, free communion between God and man was interrupted. But with the birth of Christ, there came an important shift. God would now dwell with man. First in the physical body of Jesus Christ, and later as Jesus spiritually takes up residence in the hearts of believers.  No longer would we have to remain separated from Him due to our sin. No longer would we have to live our days alone-, in darkness and with no hope. Because "God is with us" and because "God saves" we have hope! 

All signs point to Jesus.  The only sinless sign.  Through His love, through His miraculous birth, through understanding of Immanuel, rejoice today. God is with us!

 


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