An Unusual Birth
Dr. Ralph Colas
Broadcast on the ACCC Living Faith radio program, March 1971
I have selected the subject of “The Unusual” for this series of messages on the Living Faith Broadcast. During this month I want to speak on “An Unusual Birth,” “An Unusual Bully,” “An Unusual Boldness,” and “An Unusual Breath.”
Webster’s Dictionary defines “Unusual” as that which is “rare” and “uncommon.” Today I would ask you to think with me about “An Unusual Birth.”
Paul in Galatians 4:4, 5 wrote “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
When you look into the manger of Bethlehem, what do you see? Some see the folklore of an ancient people. Others see the results of illegitimacy. Biology sees a problem. But the child of God sees a wonderful truth that “the word became flesh,” (John 1:14).
At His unusual birth, heaven humbled low that night and humble folk sought to kneel at His cradle.
Men can look upon Jesus Christ with denial, speculation, or faith. But come and stand quietly in that roughly hewn stable as the hand of the ages draws back the swaddling clothes of time to reveal the ETERNAL GOD (Isaiah 40:9).
In the hour of this unusual birth, there was DARKNESS.
Luke 2:8 tells us the shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night. But I think of another kind of darkness, for when Jesus Christ was born there was great wickedness, suffering, and moral degeneration. Many believed in no God and no life after death. Moral standards were destroyed, and immorality was everywhere.
It was a dark hour and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil (John 3:19). He, the Light of the world, came into the darkness that men might have light, life, and liberty.
In the second place there was not only darkness, but there was DEITY, Galatians 4:4, “made of a woman.”
One of the most precious truths about the birth of Jesus Christ is the Fact (and it is a fact) of His virgin birth. To deny this is to deny the Word of God.
One day the Lord Jesus asked the Pharisees, “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?” (Matt. 22:42). This question stands as the keystone in the arch of history. For if Jesus Christ be not virgin born, He is not God but a man. Yes, a good man, even a great man but just a man. Such a one could not be the Savior of the world.
Could I go on record today by declaring that a man cannot deny the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ and be a Christian? For you see that without the virgin birth, the crucifixion would be a tragedy and without the virgin birth, the resurrection unthinkable.
Therefore, with a faith that brings us joy, we read in Luke 1:35, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,”
Jesus Christ came out of the ivory palaces into this world of woe by way of the Virgin Birth.
However, not only in this unusual birth was there darkness, and Deity, but it also meant DELIVERANCE. Paul adds in Galatians 4:5, “to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
I know there was a space of some 33 years before He went to the cross of Calvary, but that was why He came. The purpose of Bethlehem was Calvary. Matthew 1:21, “…and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
So the birth of Christ is not bundles but a babe. It is not tinsel on a green tree but Christ on that accursed tree. The most complete story is found in the book of Phil. 2:5-11.
Look once again, my friends, into the manger. Those eyes now sleeping will one day look upon a mob crying for His blood to be upon them and upon their children, That little head will one day wear a crown of thorns. His back would one day feel the cat-o-nine tails bite into His flesh. Those hands and feet would be pierced by rough spikes. You see, He who lay in a manger would hang on a cross.
May I ask you, have you responded to that love? Have you trusted Jesus Christ? No wonder John Newton wrote:
“I saw one hanging on a tree in agony and blood
He fixed his languid eyes on me, as near His Cross I stood.
Oh, can it be upon a tree, the Savior died for me.
My soul is thrilled, my heart is filled, to think He died for me.”
Jesus said, “He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.
My friend, you will never be any younger than you are right now. Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. This is the moment of decision for you.
