The virgin birth isn't just a theological detail tucked away in ancient creeds—it's the foundation of everything we believe about redemption. When we explore Matthew's account through Joseph's eyes, we encounter a man who faced an impossible situation: his betrothed was pregnant, and he knew he wasn't the father. Yet Joseph chose to believe God, the angel, and Mary. His faith led him to name the child Jesus—a non-family name that broke cultural expectations—and to protect the innocent at great personal cost. This narrative reveals something profound: Jesus wasn't just a great teacher who appeared in history; He stepped out of eternity into Bethlehem as fully God and fully man. The significance? That which Christ has not assumed, He has not healed. If Jesus didn't truly become human, He couldn't redeem humanity. But because He entered fully into our weakness, was tempted in every way yet without sin, He can identify with us completely. The virgin birth confirms that all human life—born and unborn, young and old, successful and struggling—has inherent dignity and eternal value. God Himself declared this when He left heaven's splendor to enter our brokenness, not because we were good, but because we desperately needed redemption. This truth should transform how we view every person we encounter and compel us to stand for life in all its stages.
