Glory and Shame

The purpose of the virgin birth seems not to be due to the need of a miracle, a specific genetic line or purity of the mother’s soul. Rather it is a significant aspect of Jesus’ humility that he was born a bastard. So the virgin birth is simply a nice way of saying that his mother and he is shamed by his birth.

The fascinating thing about the birth stories is the paradoxical conjunction of glory and shame. His bastard birth is announced as God’s doing. His adopted father rejects him and then accepts him after a miraculous dream. He is worshipped by those of an outcast profession—shepherds. He is born in Bethlehem (David’s hometown) but in a stable. He is honored by kings from afar but is threatened by the local king. He escapes miraculously, but other babies are killed in his stead. For every honor there is a corresponding rejection. Thus is the way of God’s anawim.