Together Again

Now, after the patient, careful passage of eons, with everything in place and with perfect timing, the word of creation was fulfilled in a unique and very special way. Natural processes spoken into place from the beginning were voiced anew now to Mary, and were accomplished in her with absolute precision. The prophecies were fulfilled, flawlessly.

A Natural Birth

This was not the first time the Word of God caused a baby to be born, or the only time, or the last. This same incarnation happens in every human, indeed in every beast of the earth and bird of the sky, and in every fish of the sea [John 1:1-3]. But this time it was special. This time the Word paused, cleared his throat, and concentrated on what he was to say. He must not stutter, nor mispronounce any of the words. He would express clearly this special embodiment about to occur. Jesus was the cornerstone for God's entire project. On him would rest its success or failure. The Spirit drew his breath and spoke, clearly and emphatically. The word rang out with vibrancy and power. It would echo down the long corridors of eternity. Here was God's promise to the world. God had given his word in these events. The universe turned with bated breath and waited and watched, wondering, listening expectantly. In the silent night there sounded the still, small cries of a human baby! And the angels glorified God in the highest.

The Fruit of Mary's Womb

This Son of David, child of Mary, was born through the direct involvement of God, who caused Mary to conceive while yet a virgin. Mary became pregnant miraculously through the empowering, orchestrating presence and direction of the Spirit. In the Babe of Bethlehem, the Spirit-infused Word spoken from the beginning was being fulfilled. But as we shall see, it was not as the churches have explained it. God did not violate Mary’s virginity, or impregnate her. That would have been adultery. And Jesus would have been illegitimate. Rather, God empowered Mary to conceive from her own body. Jesus was not a spirit being who invaded Mary's womb. His birth wasn’t the result of a womb invasion. All created things come into existence through the same Word who was with God and who was God in the beginning [John 1:1-3]. Although the conception of Jesus was unique and miraculous, it was natural. He shared in the same createdness and processes of nature that were put in place from the start. He was born human. It was a new, unique and extraordinary event, the first and only time ever of a virgin becoming pregnant and giving birth. But it involved processes spoken into the world from the beginning. In the natural course of time, in keeping with God's plan, the creation had now become pregnant with the human who would one day be called God's Firstborn Son. Mary had become pregnant with Jesus. As yet, however, contrary to tradition, his divine sonship was still only figurative. It awaited his baptism in the Spirit. Jesus' birth was unique, but natural. It was not God, or one-third of him, who was born in Bethlehem. It was Jesus, fully human and only human, miraculously yes, but nevertheless only human.