There are many ways in which the birth of Jesus Christ was similar to the birth of any other human being. He was conceived in the womb of a human mother, He was given birth at the proper time in the normal manner, He entered the world physically helpless in need of loving hands to bundle Him in swaddling clothes and provide nourishment, shelter, and protection for Him as he developed into a normal boy and grew on into manhood. Verily he took not on Him the nature of angels but took on Him the seed of Abraham.
But there were also some very different aspects from normal human births in the birth of Jesus Christ. Saint Matthew begins his record by saying that "the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise," suggesting already in the very first New Testament breath of inspiration that there was a difference. And that basic difference was the difference between man and God — between the natural and the supernatural.
That God should bypass the normal biological process of procreation and bring into the world a Supernatural Being is indeed marvelous but certainly not incredible.
Our attention has been called to the fact God has used four different ways of bring human beings into existence. He created Adam without the use of a man or woman. Only once did God make a man this way. This supernatural. The second way God brought a being into existence was when He created Eve from Adam's rib through the use of only a rib. Again, only once did God make a being through a man alone. This also was supernatural. The third method designed by God by which He brings humans into existence is the normal process of procreation through the use man and woman, and this process is repeated millions of times over. While this carries with it a miraculous aspect it is the natural means by which the human race increases and the world is populated. God's fourth method of bringing a being into the world was through the use of a woman only. A virgin who was "highly favored" by God and "blessed among women" was selected by God through whom He made what the Scripture declares to be "His only begotten Son." This shall happen only once and is indeed very supernatural. The new born Baby conceived by the Holy Ghost was all of God to bring God to man, and being "made of a woman" He was all of man to bring man to God.
Jesus Christ was "God manifest in the flesh" God, born in the flesh so He could be put to death in the flesh "that He might bring us to God:" A Savior not quite God and not quite man would be a bridge too short at both ends. But the bridge is adequate for there is "one mediator between God and Man, the man Christ Jesus."
We praise God that amidst the distressing conditions of crime, drunkenness, dope addiction, sexual debauchery, covetousness, hatred, murder, moral and spiritual degeneracy, religious apostasy, revolution, riots, wars, and commotions, the echo of angelic voices can still be heard by those who will lend an open ear. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward man."
Thanks be unto God for the birth that was different and for the unspeakable gift of His Son to us.
– Aaron M. Shank