<> Ask the Pastor The Rev'd Walter Snyder It seems that I'm always short of time to get things done. If I'm busy with church, there are family things to do. If with family, one of the boards or charities I'm with needs help. If involved in charity work, when can I help with the Girl Scout troop? There's also the time needed to prepare Ask the Pastor for press. Yet the business (and the "busyness") of this time of year can't hide the preparatory, penitent nature of the Advent season. Even as the Christian Church prepares for Christmas, we also prepare for Christ's return in judgment. And with Christmas almost here, I thought it a good time to address questions from two different people about the Incarnation. Q1: When Jesus was "conceived by the Holy Spirit" does that mean that a) the Holy Spirit took one of Mary's egg cells and added the complementary set of chromosomes that usually come from a male sperm cell; or b) the Holy Spirit created an human embryo in Mary's body without using any material from her body? In the former case, we should expect Jesus to look like Mary. In the latter, there may not be any resemblance whatsoever. In the former, I wouldn't be surprised if Jesus caught colds and had the chicken pox. Or perhaps should we rather say that regardless of whether a) or b) is true, Jesus had authority over disease and it couldn't touch him because of his faith and obedience to the Father, or because of his position as the Son of God? Q2: I believe that Jesus was indeed flesh 100 percent; he was also true God 100 percent. Why did He have to have Mary's egg to be flesh? If Mary's egg were used, how is original sin not passed on? If Mary was "just a housing unit" (no egg, no sperm) then His holiness is preserved. It really makes no difference to my faith, but it was an interesting thing to think about for a few moments. A: Jesus is Abraham's "seed," Jesse's descendent, and so on. His lineage is traced through his mother's lawful husband, Joseph, thus placing him in David's household. Still, Jesus was of the genetic material of his mother, while incarnate (made flesh) by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit either used Mary for the male genetic information or else "filled in" the Y chromosome, as well as establishing the union of God and man in the newly-growing cells which would, nine months later, be "born of the Virgin Mary," as the creeds of the Church confess. Jesus came from Mary's egg to fulfill prophecies, including the first Messianic promise, the curse on Satan in Genesis 3. Mary had to be more than a "housing unit"or Jesus is not her true offspring. He would not have either the curse or the burden of the Law upon himself, and Scripture is clear that he was "born under the Law" to redeem us who are under the Law. Thus, while all of this may not affect one's personal belief, it is a matter of faith, lest we begin to believe in a false Christ rather than Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God and Son of Man. As a side note, based upon the second set of questions, it is better to say that he "is" 100 percent God and 100 percent man rather than "was." Neither his humanity nor his divinity have diminished since the Incarnation. As for original sin, some think it is transmitted by the father, hence the sign of circumcision in the Old Testament. This is because Adam bore ultimate responsibility in God's eyes for the fall into sin. Thus, not having an earthly father, Jesus would not bear the taint of sin. While a case can be made, this is speculation and not an article of faith. What is clear is that Jesus' true Father is God Almighty. Jesus is himself true God. He thus could not be stained by original sin because God by nature cannot sin or be in a sinful state. This is utterly alien to his being. The more we ponder the account of Jesus' conception and birth, the more we see how marvelous it was. He was fathered by God, conceived by the Holy Spirit (through a woman's ear, for in the hearing of the Word was the miracle was wrought), and born of a virgin. Yet the story is also so basic and simple. A woman's egg was fertilized, it implanted in her uterus, and grew for nine months. She then brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in binding cloth, and laid him in the first available bed---which happened to be an animal feed trough. Small wonder that the angels themselves are astonished at the mystery of God made flesh! In the flesh, he endured many things. While the Bible doesn't give an account of the details, God's prophecy through Isaiah indicates that he would bear "our infirmities," thus, he probably endured his share of sickness and pain, even before his crucifixion. Now his flesh is ascended to be with his Father, yet he will come bodily at the end of time to judge creation, and even now comes in body and blood in the supper he gave to his Church. Thus, the miracles never cease! That's it for now. You can submit questions by mail to "Ask the Pastor," PO Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or just stop me on the street. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches in Jasper and Woodville, Texas and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1998 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.