Shalom Dear Friends,
BORN OF A VIRGIN!
During this time of year our thoughts naturally turn to the Christmas story and the miraculous “virgin birth” of our Savior. However, if we look closely at the account we need to ask ourselves, “Was Yeshua’s birth all that miraculous?” To be sure, miracles did accompany His birth. They began before He was born with the angelic announcement to Zacharias (Lk. 1:5-20), his muteness (Lk. 1:21-23), and the pregnancy of his aged and barren wife, Elizabeth (Lk. 1:24-25). They continued with the angelic announcement to Mary (Lk. 1:26-37), her conception of Yeshua in a state of virginity (Lk. 1:38), the filling of Elizabeth with the Holy Spirit when Mary drew near (Lk. 1:39-45), and the healing of Zacharias so that he could utter his prophecy (Lk. 1:57-80). When Yeshua was born, the miracles multiplied with the appearance of the Shekinah Glory (Lk. 2:8-9), and the angelic announcement to the shepherds (Lk. 2:10-14). Shortly after His birth, Simeon was allowed to recognize Him in the Temple (Lk. 2:25-28), and empowered by the Spirit of God to prophecy (Lk. 2:29-35). Next, the godly Anna was allowed to recognize Him and proclaim His arrival (Lk. 2:36-38). Even long after His birth, miracles occurred: the Shekinah Glory guiding the wise men to His home two years later (Matt. 2:1 12), the angelic warning to flee the wrath of Herod (Matt. 2:13-15), and the angelic instruction to return to the land of Israel (Matt. 2:19-20).
