The Supernatural Birth, Death and Resurrection

I John 5:6

Why should people celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas? Thousands of babies are born every minute. Only their own family celebrates their birth. While we have a day set aside to celebrate some of our presidents’ birthdays, few people actually celebrate them, and we’re not sure of Jesus’ date. Unless there was something special about the birth, there is no reason to celebrate it.

In the same way, death is a part of life. Every person dies, and a Hebrews 9:27 states, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”. Our society tries desperately to deceive themselves, and prevent death but we all still die. Thousands were crucified by the Romans, so even crucifixion was not that special.

What is special is that the creator of the universe, God himself, according to John 1:1-3 was born on this earth as a human being. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

He was born to a virgin, not just a young woman, as some would have us to believe, in a miraculous manner, according to the scriptures. Both this woman, and the man she married were of the family God had said he would come from, It took place at the time God had said it would, in the city God described, and the events surrounding his birth were what God had prophesied more than five hundred years before his birth. Every prophecy about his birth was fulfilled, proving he was the Messiah, the Christ, and God‘s only natural born(only begotten) son. No other birth was like his, nor will any ever be.

Jesus came to earth as a human baby, and lived a human life to experience every temptation and problem humans have so he could understand what living on this earth is like. In the TV show, Undercover Boss, CEO’s of major corporations spend a week doing the jobs of their basic employees to learn what it is like working for their company. Several have been shocked at what they learned. In spite of the effort, they still only spend a day at each job, are not dependent on that job for their living, and know that at the end of the week, they’ll go back to their higher lifestyle. They still don’t learn what it is like to live on what their employees earn.

The four Gospels explain what Jesus did, but the book of Hebrews explains why it had to be done that way. Hebrews 2:16-18 explains why it was necessary for him to live as a human among humans. “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” He would be able to forgive us because he knew what we experienced, even including a horrible death experience.

He was tried, tortured and executed in the most painful way his executioners could imagine for crimes they knew he hadn’t done. Even the judge who authorized his execution proclaimed his innocence. Many others have died in similar circumstances. The difference is that he did so voluntarily, to pay for our sins, and not for his own. I Peter 2:22-24 describes his action. “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” In the process he fulfilled all the scriptures relating to his death, proving again that he is Messiah.

It is his resurrection which is most vital however. While millions have died, only Christ came back from the grave. As Paul states in I Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” Our salvation is totally dependent on his resurrection. It assures us of the reality according to Acts 17:31, “…whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” If he was not raised from the dead there is no hope, Christianity is just one big lie.

“This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” (I John 5:6)

A baby is surrounded in the womb by amniotic fluid, historically referred to colloquially as water. When the membrane ruptures allowing the fluid to escape just before birth, it is still referred to as the water breaking. Being born of water was readily recognized by common people of John’s day, and of the English of 1611 as referring to natural birth. John stresses that both the Physical birth and the physical death are proof of who Christ is. He used the same terminology in John 3:3-7 referring to the need for both a physical birth and a spiritual birth.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

If being born of water is interpreted as baptism, some parts of the preceding passage become vague, and I John 5:6-9 is obscure. If being born of water refers to natural birth the meaning of both passages becomes totally clear. Since there is no other place where the terminology is used to refer to baptism, and linguistically it refers to the natural birth, it must be considered as the probable interpretation. As such it says nothing about Baptism. It neither supports nor denies baptism as being required for salvation.