What About Mary?...

And who was Jesus' biological father?...

We seem to hold some axiom that 'miracles' and 'science' are mutually incompatible, that they are immiscible, like water and oil. Some even go so far as to insist that all miracles can be explained by science. This assertion of course contains the false premise that nature is knowable, that it can be captured in something like a single mathematical equation.  These seem to claim something like; "Although the single mathematical equation has not yet been discovered, you can bet the American Masonic dollar that it will be!"

This is not an attempt to disparage science, by the way. Science represents man's noble longing to understand 'reality'; God's grand creation. Certainly it must be approached boldly, but with humility at the same time. Logic is a subset of reality, not the other way around. The new science investigating quantum reality can attest to this. What was deemed impossible by all 'logical' principles is evidenced and therefore somehow mysteriously possible! Examples would be 'entangled subatomic particles' that can exist in two different places at once, or subatomic particles seemingly able to reverse cause and effect, where the effect occurs before the cause! At this point, logic breaks down and we find ourselves on our knees in God's temple of the mysterious. If logic fails, it is because we have made logic a god with unfortunate arrogance and neglect of the Creator!

But now I am going to do what you might think is an odd switch given the above.

Because I am saying that we cannot hope to fully understand the mechanisms of nature, does that imply me saying that nature does not have mechanisms? Of course not! God is the Creator of all INCLUDING all of the marvellous mechanisms in which nature interacts.

All of the 'miracles' in the Bible, for example; not including parables, which may be purely illustrative; have natural mechanisms by which they occurred. Evidently, we have simply not bothered to scientifically investigate them; again because we have this paradigm in our heads that miracles and nature are mutually incompatible.

Now with all this in mind; and this is a big one; how about we take a look at the miracle of Mary's miraculous and unquestionably biological conception of Jesus by the 'Holy Spirit'. Now of course many will say that this was simply impossible. Well flying was deemed impossible at one point, wireless communication for another, interplanetary space travel, telepathy, out-of-body experience (these latter two not understood but nonetheless used in criminal forensic investigation), just to name a few.

So, 'What About Mary'? (I think I just found the title for this essay!) Is it not possible that there was an ACTUAL biological mechanism for Mary conceiving Jesus that did not involve a strictly human father?

Let's take a look at the account in the Gospel of Luke. I will use [brackets] to interject questions or comments within the text.

"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured!"

["Favoured"? For what reason(s)? For Mary's character? For Mary's devotion to God? For Mary's good maternal instincts? For Mary's "favourable" genetics? For all or some of the above?]

"The Lord is with you."

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be."

[Likely not something Mary would experience every day!]

"So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus."

[I can't be the only one imagining Mary thinking something like, "Slow down buster, we only just met!"]

"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

[Rough translation could be, "Say what?!  Are you completely out of your mind?!  Not that it is any of your business, but I am a virgin! Who are you and where are you from anyway?"]

"The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."

[I imagine Mary, in her shock from this statement, is looking up into the sky right about now, searching to see this Holy Spirit suitor who is about to impregnate her, and what power from the Most High is about to overshadow her!?  Perhaps thinking, "Is this figurative language, or is something about to happen to me in the "shadow" of some "most high" object looming above?" How ominous, even if it is only figurative language!]

"So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

[What?!  Was Mary's older cousin Elizabeth impregnated in a similar fashion?! The text more than hints that this was indeed the case. Was she also visited by this (tall dark and handsome) angel Gabriel? Her husband Zechariah definitely was, and was either so shocked by what he experienced, or had his wine spiked...hmmm...such that he was rendered dumb (couldn't speak) until eight days after John was born! That would indeed be one way to get a grip on Zechariah!]

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her."

[So that's it? Not even something like, "Tell you what, let me have a chat with my fiancé Joseph to see what he thinks of your plan?"]

Luke 1:26-38

Hey, I've never been constrained to ask questions. Many teachers don't like questions, evidently it makes them nervous. So they call upon the 'psychologists'; expert psychotics-in-lab-coats, ever armed with label makers and ready to placard people, especially children, with acronyms such as ADD, or ADHD or "On The Spectrum", or the fully asinine 'Asperger's'. In my opinion, these are all labels used mainly to control, discipline and indeed punish non-conformity in children. And as quickly as the labels are printed, the Pharmakeia wizards float in on white gowns, chanting strange sounding spells to the parents like 'Adderall' or 'Ritalin', or 'Strattera' or 'Intuniv', with corresponding potions to dull the creative child's wit and depress her or his spirit.

Why should the 'experts' be afraid that any should challenge their orthodox, or 'right think'  beliefs? Why are they afraid that we should 'question the science'? Why do they choose to pull rank on the 'uninitiated', those not formally inculcated with Cap and Gown, rather than address and allay doubts, if they are confident in their 'science'? 'Science' is a power word; be on guard of those who weaponize these kinds of words. They are easy to spot as they always misuse words to censor the profane, the un-illumined, you know, the regular slaves... I mean people on the outside of their sanctimonious and satanic Secret Societies, to put it bluntly.

But now back to the story, (maybe there is something to this ADHD 😝).

So evidently, Joseph is not too hip on all this 'Holy Spirit and overshadowed by the Most High' business pertaining to his bride to be! So not hip in fact that he is prepared to call off the engagement.

'Star Command' evidently got wind of this and decided to run a quick intervention on Joseph, "Houston, we've got a problem", or something to that effect.

The gospel of Matthew makes an accounting of this:

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit."

[Star Command evidently wasn't familiar with the customs of Joseph and Mary's family and friends, hadn't for a moment considered "what the Jones' might think.]

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly."

[Clearly, Joseph wasn't buying it!]

"But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son."

[Always the fine print. You've got to wonder what else was in the contract for a blue-collar carpenter like Joseph!]

And he called His name Jesus."

Matthew 1:18-25

Whoever these beings were, whatever tools and powers they had, according to the Gospel accounts, they successfully impregnated Mary, and likely Elizabeth as well, successfully merged heavenly genetics with those of at least the very human Mary. In other words, clearly there were 'mechanisms' involved! Even today, with all of our genetic tinkering we can't even guess at what this heavenly technology was, where it came from, or what it represented, that was used to impregnate Mary. We only know that it worked and that it produced a most remarkable God/man individual with a love, wisdom and mission that the world had NEVER seen before!

So how does it feel that someone (like me) should lead you to consider such things, perhaps such nonsense? If angry, maybe ask yourself why? What are you defending behind iron gates that someone should be tapping on?

My guess is that many 'believers' secretly believe that the stories of miracles of God and Jesus and angels are little more than fairytales for adults, buried in thin papered tightly bound biblical scripture, rather than actual accounts of things that we are not willing or equipped to understand. They may be saying something like, "Do I actually need to relate to God, to Jesus, to the angels in the physical and not just in a mythical or spiritual realm? I mean let's not get too real here right?!"

Why should it be so hard to imagine that God can manifest in physical reality and physical mechanisms in this small corner of this galaxy of ours?

Anyone reading the life, the words, the works, the spoken parables of Jesus must conclude that Jesus was no ordinary human, nor in mind, nor in spirit, nor in watery bodily form.

When Jesus said:

"Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Matthew 9:17

Jesus was speaking of both spirit and body, the 'wine' and 'wineskins'.

And when Jesus said:

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit."

John 3:5

Again, Jesus was suggesting the transformation of not only spirit, but of body as well.

Anyone who has done a first year university level genetics course (yes I have) will have experienced the watery and clear crystalline form of pure DNA.

And again from Jesus:

"But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”

John 4:14

Hmmm... that is some kind of very special water!

And finally, a bit more support for the 'Marvellous Mechanisms' of God!

"God moves in a mysterious way,
    His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
    And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
    Of never failing skill;
He treasures up his bright designs,
    And works His sovereign will."

William Cowper, 1773

In Chapter 1 of the Gospel of Matthew, we have the genealogy of Joseph, Jesus' adopting father.

In the New King James version, the title given is, 'The Genealogy of Jesus Christ'.

It begins:

"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers...."

Matthew 1:1, 2

And the genealogy ends with:

"And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ."

Matthew 1: 16

Fascinating!

In spite of the added mis-heading, 'The Genealogy of Jesus Christ', which is not a part of the Gospel, the gospel text does not of course say that Joseph was the biological father of Jesus, rather it simply states, "...Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ."

Indeed, Mary did give birth to Jesus.

Further along however, in this same Chapter 1, it is unequivocally stated that the biological father of Jesus was the Holy Spirit, and not Joseph:

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."

Matthew 1: 20

This genealogy of Joseph, is nonetheless useful because it places the birth of Jesus in a framework of space and time.

Meaning of the name Gabriel:

“Gabar” is a Hebrew verb that roughly translates as “to be mighty.” Hebrew words related to “gabar” help clarify its meaning within the name Gabriel. Some of these words include “geber,” which means “man,” and “gibbor,” which equates to “mighty man.”

“El” means ”God” or “of God.” It comes from the Hebrew term “Elohim,” which is often used to refer to God. You can find many popular Hebrew names that end in “el.”

(The word Elohim is the plural of El - see below)

From:

https://momlovesbest.com/gabriel-name-meaning#q0

The word Elohim is the plural of El (or possibly of Eloah) and is the first name for God given in the Tanakh: "In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth"
(Genesis 1:1):

https://hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/Elohim/elohim.html#loaded

So, 'What About Mary'?

And what about Jesus?

And what about us, and where we are going with our Star Commander Jesus?

"Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

Luke 1:31-33

You didn't think Jesus was just going to fade into the sunset did you?

No, he returned as the Holy Spirit:

"Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.” When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

John 20:21, 22

The Holy Spirit, the Breath of Jesus, the Power of God to transform, not only the spirit, but the water; the Spirit and the Water.

Water, the primary element of which our bodies comprise more than 60%.

Water, that Jesus turned into wine, upon the bidding of his mother, as His first miracle.

"When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman, why does this concern us?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

John 2:3-5

If we want this transformation, this transubstantiation from water into wine, should we not as well, "Do whatever He tells (us)?!

"For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’"

Acts 17:28

"Offspring", γένος, genos

Spring:

"Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

John 4:14

And 'What About Mary?...

"...And she was real

at the Crossbeams

Simeon had told her

long, long ago

A sword would pierce her...

Though hers be bloodless

it penetrated sharp

and deep, as truly

as the gaping wounds

she now was powerless

to soothe

He looked down

from His agony

into hers—

Gave her, (Mary) to mother his friend

Gave his friend

to be her son

It was always about love

She was a real mom

He is the real Savior"

Maude Carolan

"UFO Above Virgin Mary In 500-Year-Old Painting Hints At Extraterrestrial Intervention In Human History"

https://www.howandwhys.com/ufo-above-virgin-mary-in-500-year-old-painting/

Look closely at the following images (no, they didn't have cameras back then!)

“The Annunciation, with Saint Emidus,” which was painted in 1486 by Italian artist Carlo Crivelli."

“Madonna and Child with the Infant St. John,” is attributed to more than one artist and is located at the Palazzo Vecchio Museum in Florence, Italy. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is seen looking down while in the background, something unusual is taking place."

"This fresco from 1350, located at the Visoki Decani Monastery in Kosovo, has the two objects on either side of Jesus that seem to be controlled by pilots."