Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
While the “virgin birth” story is compelling, it’s hard not to believe it was either created out of whole cloth, or worse, was an excuse for an embarrassing family scandal. A scandal that may have been regularly repeated as part of the oral history of Jesus, but not particularly flattering for a rabbi or prophet (or for that matter, the son of God). Thus a more acceptable myth was created that conveniently explained away the complication, while at the same time engendering greater spiritual credentials as it were.
Personally, as odd as it may sound, I don’t find the idea of Jesus being a child out of wedlock any less compelling. It makes him more human, and the idea the a human, a truly human, can transcend the flaws humanity implies and yet become something far greater, is far more inspirational than a man born perfect and incapable of sin. That is, a man capable of sin who chooses not to, is a far better model than a man who is simply incapable of it.
I also find the phrase, “before they came together”, a curious interjection. It almost sounds an afterthought. One intended to make it clear that while Joseph and Mary were engaged, nothing unseemly was occurring. A little extra protection from the rumors that might otherwise revolve around their engagement. It also probably answered Jewish and Pagan critics who were probably looking for ways to malign a sect they saw as at best false, and at worst, heresy.
It also must be said, though it has been noted many times by others, that what we’re talking here is a sort of supernatural “date rape” – it wasn’t exactly consensual (of course what woman wouldn’t want to bear the child of God right?). In that sense, it might be better as a moral message if it weren’t some sort of non-consensual spiritual impregnation, but rather just a simple case of the accidents of sex out of wedlock like so many other stories since the beginning of time
Hardly something to be embarrassed of, but certainly something that doesn’t fit well into the typical Christian narrative.
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