The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (Luke 1:35)
Some animal and vegetal species can reproduce themselves without being in contact with another plant or animal. Biologists call this reproductive mode parthenogenesis (from the Greek parthenos, meaning “virgin,” and genesis, meaning “birth”). This phenomenon is also known as asexual reproduction.
The virginal conception of Jesus is also an asexual reproduction, however, very singular. God announced the coming of his Son into the world since the beginning (see Gen. 3:15). At first glance, Mary questioned the likelihood of this birth because nothing similar had ever happened according to the natural order of things. Unbeknownst to her, God had decided to initiate her into the world of motherhood unconventionally. It was not by parthenogenesis, nor by might, nor by power, but by his Holy Spirit.
Long before, God even provided ample details about the supernatural hallmarks of this virgin birth in one of the messianic prophecies dating back seven centuries. He announced with one hundred percent accuracy that his Son would be born of a virgin (see Isa. 7:14). This conception occurred as planned without any human intervention.
If God was able to bring his Son by a virgin birth into this world to save sinners as he had announced for many centuries, how much more will he be able to fulfill his word to us? Like Mary, we are to let his will be fulfilled because no word from him will ever fail.
Trust that God will do what he says.
Handy Calixte is an ordained pastor of L’Église Wesleyenne d’Haïti and likes writing about various biblical topics. He and his wife, Johane, have three children.
© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
