Only Matthew and Luke tell the story of Jesus’ birth. Although differing in how they tell their stories, they are united in one vital detail. Jesus’ conception in the Virgin Mary was an act of God. Joseph, a good and righteous man, was Jesus’ legal, not biological father. The Virgin Birth points to, what we now call, The Incarnation. It is on this point; I want to discuss two profound passages.

The first is the magnificent prologue to the Gospel of John. Drawing upon Genesis 1, John says:

John 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made …

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV)

In oneness with the Father and Holy Spirit, the Word created all things. Then John, breathtakingly, tells us that this omnipotent Creator, became flesh. The reference to Genesis is clear, but there is another reference obscured by our English translation, “dwelling.” The Greek word first means to pitch a tent/encamp, or tabernacle. Look at Exodus 40:

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (NIV)

What couldn’t be beheld, even by Moses, was seen in Jesus, first as a helpless newborn in Mary’s arms. Later, John, unknowingly at the time, beheld this glory, in a simple carpenter’s son by the Sea of Galilee. That’s breathtaking indeed!

The second passage is found in Philippians 2 and is believed by many to be an early hymn, early Christians sang. Here is part of this “Christ Hymn:”

Philippians 25 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own
advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross! (NIV)

This, too, takes our breath away. My imagination is not nearly good enough to imagine “equality with God,” but good enough to appreciate that Christ gave up more than I can imagine in taking human form.

We often narrow the sacrifice of Christ, to His death on a cross, and a great sacrifice that was! But it was all sacrifice, and a sacrifice He willingly made! There, in a manger, was the sacrifice of Christ—a baby—the Creator, completely dependent on Mary and Joseph. They would feed, dress, and protect the Word made flesh.

John Rutter is one of my favorite Christmas composers. His Candlelight Carol is my favorite of his Christmas works. He beautifully captures this sacrifice in these lyrics:

Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore Him
Seraphim 'round Him, their vigil will keep
Nations proclaim Him their Lord and their Savior
But Mary will hold Him and sing Him to sleep …
Find Him in Bethlehem laid in a manger,
Christ our Redeemer, asleep in the hay
Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation
A child with his mother that first Christmas Day.

I, too, in light of the incarnation, “kneel and adore Him.” One day, soon, I’ll do so face-to-face.