Isa.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.

This brings us to the very heart of the mystery of God. How could a virgin give birth to a child? Why would such a thing happen? The first question can only be answered one way, the birth of Christ was totally supernatural. It would be impossible for a virgin to become pregnant without divine intervention. Mary conceived Jesus in her womb by the work of the Holy Spirit, there is simply no other answer. The second question brings us to God’s plan of redemption. Fallen man had no hope of restoration, we had become hopelessly separated from God. The whole point of the Son of God becoming a man was about redemption. This One born of a virgin would not carry the fallen nature in Him, He would be a perfect man. Since He was man He could make a covenant for man with God. Since He was the Son of God He could make a covenant with man for God. This is the whole point of Calvary, Christ became a man to die on the cross as a substitute for all mankind. Here is how Henry describes the virgin birth.

“Here the Old Testament prophecies had their fulfillment, in our LORD Jesus. Now the Scripture that was fulfilled in the birth of Christ was that promise of a sign that God gave to King Ahaz, Behold, a virgin shall conceive, where the prophet, encouraging the people of God to hope for the promised rescue from Sennacherib’s invasion, directed them to look forward to the Messiah, who was to come from the Jewish people and the house of David. The sign given was that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. “A virgin shall conceive, and by her he will be revealed in the flesh.” The Hebrew word almah, which is used in Isa 7:14, means “a virgin” in the strictest sense, such as Mary professes herself to be: I know not a man. Christ would be born not of an empress or queen — for he appeared not in outward pride, show, or splendor — but of a virgin, to teach us spiritual purity.”

So this is the mystery of God, He was born of a virgin to save the race of fallen man. Those who believe on Him as the Savior of the world experience the new birth. This is why the Christmas story is so intriguing, underneath the surface is the the whole point of our existence, to comprehend the mystery of God.