Request your free, three-month trial to Tabletalk magazine. You’ll receive the print issue monthly and gain immediate digital access to decades of archives. This trial is risk-free. No credit card required.
Try Tabletalk NowAlready receive Tabletalk magazine every month?
Verify your email address to gain unlimited access.
Philippians 2:1–8
“Being in the form of God, [Jesus] did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6–7).
Did Jesus fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 7? Was He the Son to be born of a virgin, the one who was to be known as Immanuel?
The gospel records of Jesus’ birth agree that His conception was miraculous. Luke says Mary was a virgin (1:27). Matthew says “she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (1:18), just as the angel had said (Luke 1:35). Matthew also tells us that the angel assured Joseph that “ ‘that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit’ ” (1:20). In response, Joseph “did not know Mary till she had brought forth her firstborn Son” (1:25). And John indicates that God, not Joseph, was Jesus’ Father (1:14, 18). Thus, Scripture’s clear testimony is that Jesus was born of a human virgin, like the Son of the sign.
The bigger question is this: Was Jesus Immanuel? Did His birth mean “God with us”? If anything, the Bible’s answer to this question is even more definitive. The very first verse of John’s gospel declares that He “was God.” Paul makes the same claim, saying, “In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). Jesus clearly claimed to be God (John 8:28, 58). Also, those who saw His works recognized Him as God. For instance, Simon Peter cried out, “ ‘depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ ” (Luke 5:8) when he saw Jesus cause a miraculous catch of fish. A Roman centurion who witnessed His death said, “ ‘Truly this Man was the Son of God!’ ” (Mark 15:39). And Thomas exclaimed, “ ‘My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:28) when he saw Jesus alive following His crucifixion. These are just a few of the vast number of Scriptural passages affirming Jesus’ divinity. In Him, God had come to earth.
The Virgin Birth assured that Jesus was human, but not only human. That is to say, He clearly had a human mother, but her virgin status ruled out a human father. Instead, His Father was God Himself, as His mighty miracles showed. He was indeed the God-man, our Immanuel, born in fulfillment of Isaiah 7. Thus, He was able to be the long-promised Redeemer. He had to identify with His people in their humanness; only then could He represent them on the cross. And He had to retain His divinity, only then could He compile the perfect righteousness that made Him the spotless lamb for the Atonement. He was God born of a woman, and He purchased life for His people.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
In Philippians 2, Paul writes that Jesus made Himself “of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,” and humbling Himself. He did it for us, and we, too, are to give ourselves for others. Reflect today on the humbling experience of going from heaven to a human womb to a dirty stable. Praise Jesus Christ for the love that drove Him here.
For Further Study
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12
- 1 Peter 4:10
- 1 John 4:7–11