Virgin Birth Validation
Professor Peter W. Stoner was Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College and Chairman of the science division at Westmont College. In his book Science Speaks, Professor Stoner outlines the mathematical probability of one person in the first century fulfilling just eight of the clearest and most straightforward Messianic prophecies.
We find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 11017 (1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000). In case you’re wondering, the Mega Millions had a $1.6 billion jackpot in October 2018, and the odds of winning it were merely 1 in 302,575,350. Stoner calculated the probability of one person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1010157. In case you’re questioning whether Professor Stoner’s math was wrong, H. Harold Hartzler, Ph.D., of the American Scientific Affiliation, Goshen College, writes in the forward of Stoner’s book:
“The manuscript for Science Speaks has been carefully reviewed by a committee of the American Scientific Affiliation members and by the Executive Council of the same group and has been found, in general, to be dependable and accurate regarding the scientific material presented. The mathematical analysis included is based upon principles of probability, which are thoroughly sound, and Professor Stoner has applied these principles properly and convincingly.” Courtesy of Josh McDowell Evidence That Demands A Verdict
In other words, you stand a greater chance of winning a huge lottery than Jesus would have stood, fulfilling just eight of the multitude of prophecies we find in Scripture well before he was ever born.
But let’s look at what is said about Jesus’ birth by a man who was prophesying somewhere around 740 - 687 BC. A prophet whose words were confirmed by the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered 100 years before the birth of Jesus and confirming parts of Isaiah.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
The virgin birth of Jesus is of great importance as it fulfills the word God spoke through prophets many generations before His arrival so that mankind could know who the Messiah was with certainty.
Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
The prophecies of His birth have a specific location, a virgin mom, and other specifics, all fulfilled by Jesus! Fulfilling eight prophecies so specific seems impossible. Imagine fulfilling 365! Then think of His promise to return!
Acts 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
The miracle of a virgin birth should tell us to trust in all of His promises and prophecies! Jesus is coming again soon!
