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Text: Matt. 1:18
Title: “On This Wise”
Subj: Why Jesus’ birth was different than all other births
Intro: The Bible says in Matt. 1:18, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:” “On this wise.”
“On this wise” directs our thoughts to something new, something different about the birth of Jesus Christ that was not true of the 42 generations mentioned in the preceding genealogies. Jesus’ birth was a particular birth, but a different birth.
Now most everything about Jesus’ birth was different. It was the coming of God in human flesh; it was a prophesied birth; it was a birth that broke into time at an exact time and place; it was a birth without male intervention; it was a birth that involved the totality of the Godhead; it was a birth that required the overshadowing by the Holy Spirit; and there are other aspects that were different than a normal human birth. It was “on this wise.”
“On this wise.” I would like to share just a few thoughts on the truth that Jesus was conceived and, therefore, born of a woman without the interference of a man.
This is obviously outside the experience of all of us. In fact, it is outside the comprehension of all of us. We have never seen nor experienced such a miracle. Humanly speaking, it is a physical impossibility. But, with God, nothing is impossible; so because God has spoken it and recorded it in the Book that will never pass away; we believe it by faith and confirm it in our own hearts by His infallible proofs.
Gen. 3:15 says, “And I (Elohim) will put enmity (“hostility, hatred”) between thee (Satan) and the woman (Eve), and between thy (Satan’s) seed (“offspring,”) and her (Eve, Mary’s) seed (“offspring,” i.e., Jesus); it (seed of the woman, i.e., Jesus) shall bruise (“fall upon, crush”) thy head, and thou (Satan) shalt bruise (“fall upon,” by biting) his (Jesus’) heel.”
At the very dawn of human existence, God states that Jesus’ birth shall be “on this wise,” different. God states that Jesus will come forth out of a woman without the intervention of a man. Remember that the woman was taken from the side of the man, then the man and woman were united in marriage and “they shall be one flesh.” So God interrupts the natural order of things that the birth of Jesus should be “on this wise.”
Isa. 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; ‘Behold, a virgin (Mary) shall conceive, and bear (“bring forth”) a Son (Jesus as deity), and shall call His Name Immanuel (“God with us”)’.”
Now the Holy Spirit adds the truth that the woman involved in the birth of Jesus will be a virgin (“young woman,” who is always a virgin). This virgin will birth a Son, who is God, without the intervention of a male.
Isa. 9:6 adds further information about the birth, “For unto us a Child (humanity) is born, unto us a Son (deity) is given (“provided”)…”
This One who is born of the virgin shall be a Child, as to His humanity, and a Son, as to His deity. Son, when referring to Jesus, has the meaning of “same as.” Jesus is the “same as” His Father, i.e., Jesus is God. So God, again, interrupts the natural order of things that the birth of Jesus should be “on this wise.”
We now fast forward to the N.T. and Gal. 4:4. “But when the fulness (“completeness”) of the [determined] time was come, God sent forth his Son, made (“to appear in history”) of a woman, made under the law,”
Once again, God intervenes is the natural order of His creation to bring forth Jesus from a woman without the intervention of a man. It was “on this wise,” different from all other births.
Matt. 1:18, 20 tells us how this came about that a child could be born without the intervention of a man. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together (consummated the marriage), she was found with Child (humanity) of the Holy Ghost (deity)” and to Joseph, “…fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for That Which (who, i.e., Jesus) is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost (as to source); and to Mary, “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son (deity/humanity), and shalt call His Name JESUS.”
Mary’s testimony, “…how shall this be, seeing I know not (have not had martial relations with) a man?” The angel’s reply, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon (“overtake”) thee, and the power of the Highest (“Most High, i.e., God) shall overshadow (“envelop”) thee: therefore also that holy (“separate, distinct, unique”) Thing (i.e., Jesus) Which (who) shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of (“same as”) God.”
God, again, not only interrupts the natural order of human conception, but He identifies the Holy Spirit as the 2nd half of the equation in conception. There is much more to this subject, but that is not my focus. Suffice it to say, God’s intervention and the setting aside of any man is now obvious, and so it was “on this wise.”
Next, we see that this was to be a fulfillment of prophecy. “And she [alone] (the virgin, i.e., Mary) shall bring forth a Son (deity/humanity), and thou shalt call His Name JESUS (Jehovah is salvation): for He shall save (deliver) His people (the Jews) from their sins.”
“Now all this was done (“appeared in time/history”), that it might be fulfilled (filled to the full) which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet (Isaiah), saying, ‘Behold, a virgin shall be with Child (humanity), and shall bring forth a Son (deity), and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us’.”
This is a restatement of the truth already revealed in Isaiah, that God would intervene in the affairs of men to bring forth a Saviour that men might be delivered from the just penalty of their sins. Thus when the birth of Jesus was prophesied it was “one this wise,” and when the birth of Jesus occurred, it was “on this wise.”
How was it accomplished that the humanity of Jesus could be protected from the sin-nature of Mary? “Wherefore when He (Jesus) cometh into the world (by birth), He (Jesus) saith, ‘Sacrifice and offering Thou (Elohim) wouldest not, but a body (humanity) hast Thou (Elohim) prepared (“knitted”) Me (Jesus)’:” (Heb. 10:5)
Now prophecy is fulfilled. Mary’s part. “And she brought forth her firstborn (one of others) Son (deity/humanity), and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes (“strips of cloth”), and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” The Holy Spirit’s part. “For unto you (shepherd/Jews) is born (humanity) this day in the city of
Thus was Jesus Christ conceived and born in a manner common to mankind, yet “one this wise,” different from every other birth that had ever taken place. This is your surety that the One that you have entrusted your salvation to is fully God, yet came as fully man to, first, show you what God was like and second, to die as the God-man for your sins.
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