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Matthew 1 v 18. This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

 

This uncommon King with His unique pedigree and incredible conception begs the question: Why did Jesus need a human mother at all?

 

The conception of Jesus in a human mother’s womb and subsequent journey from that womb into the world, guarantees to us that He was and is truly and fully human. Because He was conceived by a human mother he “shares” our humanity.

 

Take the time to turn to Hebrews 2:14-18 and read it slowly, one phrase at a time. There you will be told he “Shared in their humanity” so that his death “might destroy … the devil”. And “for this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way …”

 

We needed a human substitute to stand in for us at the Cross. Jesus was that substitute. But he also needed to be divine so that in sinless divinity he could pay the price for the sin of humanity. So before anything else, the mysterious primary purpose of the Christmas miracle was that by means of the virgin’s conception the “Word became flesh” (John 1:14). That is, the Word who existed even before Mary was born, could enter into our world with a full human nature.

 

Please remember that Jesus was not some sort of hybrid – half God and half man. That is the stuff of mythology. No! Jesus is one divine-human person. He is able to be truly God and truly Man, two natures united in his person without being mixed up.

 

This is incredible stuff. The incarnation, this mysterious and great miracle which lies at the heart of historic New Testament Christianity, is central to the Gospel that saves us.

 

Jesus is truly an uncommon King.

 

Meditation:

The New Testament forbids us to worship angels (Colossians 2:28, Revelation 22:8-9) but leads us to worship Jesus. Why do you think this is so? Have you worshipped Him today?