SOUNDING OUT: God’s Only Begotten and Mary’s Firstborn
Jesus was God’s only begotten son and Mary’s firstborn son. He is called God’s only begotten son in six verses (John 1:14,18; 3:16,18; Hebrews 11:17; and I John 4:9), but he was never called Mary’s only begotten son. Instead, he was called Mary’s firstborn. “Only begotten” comes from the Greek word monogenês which is a compound word. It comes from mono, meaning “one,” “alone,” or “only.” You may be familiar with mono from its use in English:
Monochrome – a drawing in only one color
Monogamy – the practice of having only one spouse
Monopoly – the only place to get a good or service
The second part of the compound word monogenês is genes meaning “offspring” or “descendant.” It is related to ginomai (to become or come into existence), genos, (offspring, race, nationality), and genesis (generation or beginning). Jesus Christ had a beginning in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem. Jesus was called the only begotten Son of God because he was the only man whom God miraculously fathered in the natural way. God miraculously put a sperm in Mary’s reproductive organs which resulted in a conception, a conception of divine origin. Never before and never since has God done such a thing. God formed, made, and created Adam and Eve as mature individuals and the rest of mankind came into being from them. However Jesus had a uniquely different beginning. He was conceived by God and born into the world as a baby.
Luke 1:31-38:
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. [Its job was completed.]
I called this conception miraculous because, to the best of my understanding it was the working of a miracle. The angels delivered to Mary by a word of knowledge, certain truths or facts concerning the birth of this child, which were humanly impossible for her to know by her five senses which was revelation from God. She operated the manifestation of believing and brought to pass the impossible according to what God had revealed to her by word of knowledge. She believed and said, “be it unto me according to thy word.” Verse 31 said she would conceive and verse 35 said her son would be born. She believed to conceive and she had to continue to operate the manifestation of believing throughout the approximately nine months of her pregnancy until her firstborn son, God’s only begotten son was born. The result of the operation of these manifestations of word of knowledge and believing brought to pass the miracle. That’s how one operates the manifestation of workings of miracles. Later, when Mary goes to see Elizabeth, Elizabeth prophesies by revelation, speaking words of knowledge and words of wisdom saying:
Luke 1:45:
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance [teleiôsis meaning a completing, a perfecting, a fulfillment, or an accomplishing] of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Mary had believed and conceived, and Elizabeth assured her that the rest of what the angel told her would most assuredly come to pass. Mary would have her son. She simply continued to operate the manifestation of believing to bring the impossible to pass. Here was a woman who was about to have a baby who had never known a man. Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost before she and Joseph came together in marriage. It was the power of the Highest, which overshadowed her and impregnated her. God spoke it into being with the power of His Word.
Matthew 1:18, 23-25:
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. 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Notice, Jesus was called Mary’s firstborn. The account in Luke also described Jesus as Mary’s firstborn.
Luke 2:6,7:
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
“Firstborn” is used of Mary because she had at least four more sons and two more daughters.
Matthew 13:54-56:
And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Jesus is also referred to as firstborn of God, but that is in the context of God’s spiritual family after Pentecost.
Romans 8:29:
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he [Jesus] might be the firstborn among many brethren. [That’s you and I and others.]
How wonderful to note that God’s only begotten son was placed on earth into a wonderful family. Jesus had a mother and father who raised him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. That gives me a new appreciation of the value and importance of families. God thought it was good enough for His only begotten son, who was also Mary’s firstborn. He grew up with brothers and sisters and learned a trade from his father.
God saw to it that His son was raised in a wonderful family. If it was good enough for Jesus it ought to be good enough for you and I and our children. Let’s make our earthly families a haven to foster godly growth and encourage our children to mature in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
