Lesson for December 21, 2025

The Virgin Birth of Jesus

Matthew 2:11 states that “certain Magi came from the East” and saw the Child. Matthew 2:16 notes that King Herod decreed all male children under the age of two years to be slain. Herod had ascertained from the Magi the time that the star appeared and based his decree upon this information. This line of reasoning will not give us an exact date for the birth; it only shows that Jesus was likely born around 5-6 B.C.

The Magi are called “wise men.” The Magi were part of a Gentile system of astrology, a fraternity of scholars that existed before the days of Daniel. It was one of the oldest fraternities in the world that came up through the Medes and the Persians, and it also had a relationship to the Babylonians. It began somewhere in the Tigris-Euphrates valley in Mesopotamia, and it involved three races of people, the Medes, the Persians, and the Chaldeans.

“Behold, there came wise men from the east.” We do not know the exact number of Magi that journeyed to see Jesus. Wherever the Magi went, no one ever bothered them. Bandits wouldn’t rob them, and no one would do them violence. Everyone was afraid of the Magi, thinking they had great power.

Who and what are the Magi? Daniel 2:13,48 tells us that Daniel was likely a member of the Magi and a “high potentate” in the fraternity. They were all Gentiles. They are remembered for being astrologers, but they were chemists, physicians, and mathematicians. As far as we know, Daniel and perhaps his Jewish friends were the only Jews who were ever permitted to enter the fraternity.

Luke 2:1-2 states that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census was to be taken. This is the reason that Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem. We have no record of this census from secular Roman sources. However, there is indication from Egypt that a census was taken approximately every 14 years, and that a census had been taken shortly after 20 BC. This would coincide with the 5-6 BC date.

The virgin birth of Christ fulfills the Davidic Covenant. This covenant was the unconditional promise from God that David would have a son Who would reign forever. (II Samuel 7, Psalms 89, II Chronicles 21) The lineage of Mary can be traced to David. (Luke 3:23-38) The lineage of Joseph, Christ’s legal guardian, can be traced to David as well. (Matthew 1:1-17) Christ, therefore, has both a birthright and a legal right to the throne of David (a throne that will be set up during the Millennium upon which Christ will sit and rule the world).

The historical record of the birth of Christ is well documented both biblically and secularly. Most people are familiar with the story. However, many are not familiar with the doctrine of the birth of Christ and its impact upon the world. It is safe to say that no other person in history has changed the world in the way that Jesus of Nazareth changed it. (Matthew 1:18-25; Isaiah 7:14)

Without a sin nature, without Adam’s original sin and without personal sin, Jesus Christ is the only Person in history qualified to go to the Cross and pay the penalty for sin. Christ also had to be human in order to be our prototype. He lived an impeccable (sinless) life in God’s power system (the control of God the Holy Spirit), the same system that is available to us as believers. (Timothy 2:5)

The plan, formulated in eternity past, called for a sin-bearer to “bridge” the gap between God and man. This sin-bearer had to be uniquely qualified, however. He had to have no sin of his own, he had to be equal with both parties involved and he had to be willing to bear the sin of the entire human race. Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, agreed to execute the plan. Therefore, Jesus Christ became a man, lived a sinless life and became our sin-bearer. (Romans 5:8; II Corinthians 5:21)

It was necessary for Jesus Christ to become humanity in order to die physically, so that we, like Him, could have a resurrection body and conquer death. It was necessary for Jesus Christ to become a human being in order to be the mediator between God and mankind (a mediator must have an affinity with both parties). It was necessary for Jesus Christ to become a human being in order that He could be our High Priest. And, as we have seen, Christ had to become a man in order to fulfill the Davidic Covenant.

God prepared a person to be the mother of the humanity of Christ, Mary. Mary was a wonderful Jewish believer and especially chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah. Mary was the mother of the humanity of Christ, not the “Mother of God.” God also prepared a man to take care of His Son while He was growing up, Joseph. Joseph like Mary was a Jewish believer and a person of integrity. (Matthew 1:18-25)

Though Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus Christ, he was the father (guardian) of Christ while He was growing up. We can only conjecture as to Joseph’s role in the earlier training of Jesus, as we are not given a great deal of information about Christ’s youth. We do, however, see Jesus at the age of twelve in the Temple.

We can learn some things about Mary and Joseph from several statements that were made about them and several statements that they made. In Luke, the angel said that Mary was “highly favored,” that “the Lord was with her” and that she was “blessed among women.” Also, in Luke 1:38, Mary confirmed her obedient attitude toward the Lord.

Mary was a faithful believer who knew and quoted the Word of God according to Luke 1:46-56. We can also learn something of Joseph. Matthew 1:19, calls Joseph “a just man.” The Greek word for just is “dikaios” and means righteous. Joseph was a believer who lived a righteous life in accordance with God’s will. Joseph was a man of integrity, and he was obedient to the Lord, according to Matthew 1:20-25, 2:19-23. It was into this family of integrity that Jesus Christ was born and was raised.

From humble beginnings this unique Person grew to manhood and began an amazing journey. Part of His journey from age thirty to age thirty-three was recorded for us by four of His followers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We are very fortunate to have been given this record. It is this record of Christ (Anointed One) that not only teaches us how we are to treat one another, but it also gives us the greatest love story of all time. (Genesis 3:15; II Samuel 7:5-17; Isaiah 7:14)