The wondrous mystery of the triune God was on full display in the unique miracle of the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. In one sense, it is easy to see why the doctrine of the virgin birth is so mocked and despised by the secular world and liberal denominations. Christ’s virgin birth is beyond our human comprehension. This special birth is unique in all of human history.

Biblical history records several important and miraculous births. For example, Sarah gave birth to Isaac when she was well beyond the age of bearing children. Rebekah was granted twins when she was childless. After many years of barrenness, Hannah gave birth to her son Samuel. The forerunner of the Lord Jesus, John the Baptist, was given to Zacharias and Elisabeth in their old age.

Yet all these births, however miraculous in their timing and circumstances, were still the result of normal, natural conception.

The incarnation of our Lord Jesus and His virgin birth stands alone and is unique in Scripture and in history. Jesus Christ’s birth marks the end of one era and the dawn of a new one. Even the secular world today, try as it might, cannot escape the reality that our dating system is rooted in the incarnation of the Lord Jesus. All things before this central event in human history are regarded as B.C. (“before Christ”), and all things after this event are regarded as A.D. (Anno Domini, or “in the year of the Lord”).

When the archangel Gabriel brought news to a young maiden named Mary in the village of Nazareth, the messenger of Jehovah gave witness to the wonder of the Trinity. The archangel greeted Mary with this announcement from on High, “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28).

Mary’s reaction was quite what one would expect! “And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be” (Luke 1:29). To be the mother of the Messiah was the deepest dream and hope of every Hebrew girl. It was a well-known fact that the prophet Isaiah had prophesied that the Son of God would be born of a virgin. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Immanuel means “God with us,” a promise of the incarnation of the Son of God.

The angel Gabriel sought to allay Mary’s natural fears. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS” (Luke 1:30–31).

Then Gabriel went on to prophesy great things of the virgin-born son of Mary. “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32–33).

Immediately after this prediction of greatness and an eternal kingly reign, Mary had a question for the Heavenly messenger. According to Luke 1:34, she asked him, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”

Upon this inquiry Gabriel gave testimony to the wonder of the Trinity in the incarnation. “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).

In the archangel’s pronouncement, we have a clear mention of all three members of the divine Trinity and their role in the miracle of the Incarnation. Let’s consider each member of the Trinity proclaimed in Gabriel’s statement.

“The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee”: God the Holy Spirit

The virgin birth was not the result of a normal physical union but a spiritual union. The Holy Ghost came upon the mother of Jesus for the purpose of the incarnation. Throughout the Lord Jesus’ ministry, we receive consistent evidence of the attendant presence of the Holy Spirit. According to Luke 3:22, when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, “the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove” upon Him.

Those who espouse Unitarianism or Modalism, denying the doctrine of the Trinity, cannot adequately explain how the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit were united and yet distinct in this remarkable account. One in essence yet distinct in Person, the Holy Spirit actively participated in the incarnation of Christ.

“The power of the Highest shall overshadow thee”: God the Father

The Son is eternally begotten of the Father. The Father is called “the Highest” by the archangel Gabriel. This title is drawn from the Old Testament term El Elyon, literally, the “God Most High,” and sometimes translated “The Most High God.” In the baptism of Jesus, God the Father was also manifested. An audible declaration proclaimed from Heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22).

“That holy thing which shall be born of thee”: God the Son

Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, was, is, and ever will be the second Person of the Trinity. False teachers assert that Jesus only assumed divinity at the time of His baptism. However, the Bible makes very clear that Jesus was eternally divine. He was Immanuel (“God with us”). He was sinless from conception. The curse of Adam did not rest upon Him. Jesus Christ was fully man because He was born of woman. In truth, Jesus was the prophesied One Who was born of the seed of woman. (See Genesis 3:14–15). But He was also fully God, because He was not conceived by man but by the power of God.

Each Christmas season, let’s reflect reverently and gratefully upon the miracle of the virgin birth. This essential doctrine of the Bible must be maintained and emphasized in our day of theological liberalism and skepticism. The Son of God, born of a virgin, was and is forever the Savior of the world!