A New Thing
God loves new things, not new in time but new in nature. He promises a new heaven and earth with a new Jerusalem; we’ll have a new name and sing a new song, and most importantly, we are a new creation in Christ.
God sent the angel Gabriel to earth with a new message:
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Luke 1:31-32a
This would be a completely new thing, a one-time event, a miracle that fulfilled ancient prophecy.
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
“He will be great …” The Greek word is megas: great in rank, authority, and power. He will surpass all others in excellence and majesty. He will be great.
This sign or miracle conception was also prophesied by Jeremiah:
For the Lord has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encircles a man. Jeremiah 31:22b
Let’s break this passage down.
First of all, God did it. He chose to shape or fashion Himself within a virgin, created a completely new thing, something unheard of yet true. This woman, Mary, encircled a man. She carried the seed of God in her womb and surrounded or encircled Him with love and protection as any mother would. This sign or pledge from God, a woman encircling a man, as miraculous as it is, isn’t the end of it. There’s more.
The Hebrew word for man in this case means champion or valiant warrior. The virgin will bear a son and He will be great … a Champion and a Warrior: El Gibbor.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Psalms 24:8
Gird your sword on Your thigh, O mighty One, in your splendor and majesty! Psalms 45:3
Jesus Christ is our prevailing and victorious Mighty Warrior, El Gibbor. Isaiah wrote about Him in the context of the virgin birth:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Mighty God? El Gibbor.
Jesus is our Champion and He fights for us. A woman encircles a man; Mary carried Mighty God in her womb; it was new thing He created for us. That’s why we celebrate Christmas; El Gibbor, Mighty God, became flesh and lived among us so that He could redeem us.
It’s a powerful message that God would love us enough to become one of us and still fights for us. Whatever is going on in your life right now, He is El Gibbor and will show Himself strong and mighty on your behalf.
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