In a culture that has been termed not merely post-modern, but also "post-Christian", it might seem as though there are no claims left to make regarding the true meaning of Christmas.
Certainly, the secularization of culture has a great deal to do with the reductionist approach to the event celebrated for centuries and known as Christmas. Regardless of current cultural views, however, there remain irrefutable evidences within the pages of Holy Writ -- proofs that have stood the test of time. The uncanny accuracy and pinpoint fulfillment of prophetic utterances (made ages ago and throughout the course of history by various individuals moved upon by the very Spirit of God in order to bring His promises to speech) cannot be ignored.
Over 400 of these prophetic utterances find their fulfillment in a Man, and not just any man. Rather, it is the One Who preferred to call Himself, "the Son of Man," a title He used more than any other.
Isaiah, perhaps the most eloquent prophet in all of Hebrew Scripture, made many utterances in his journey as a spokesman for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Isaiah was fully persuaded that Jehovah (the One Who revealed Himself as "I AM" when talking with Moses on the backside of the Sinai desert) was the definitive Author and Guide of all human history. According to Isaiah, every nation was in Jehovah's hands and every nation was to serve Him by establishing the rule of law that embodied justice, righteousness, fairness, love of God, love of neighbor and all mankind, and peace (in Hebrew, shalom, meaning "nothing missing, nothing broken").
It was Isaiah who declared " ... Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." The prophet had an understanding, albeit a revelatory one, that a child would be born, yet a son required being given, if indeed He was to be the Promised Seed of the woman as the original prophecy of the Messianic Conqueror foretold.
Isaiah also uttered these words, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel."
The post-modern world has little interest in the miracle of the virgin birth and little or no interest in the necessity of the virgin birth. However Mary's boy, Jesus, was more than a child who had been born. Isaiah said a Son had to be given. Unlike any other birth, this Child was born of the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of God Himself, in fulfillment of prophecy. At the moment of conception, the Eternal Son of God became flesh in the womb of the virgin -- sinless, spotless flesh.
Since corruption entered the world by man, only God could provide the life capable of impregnating a virgin without transmitting sin to the progeny. Secularists and liberal theologians mock and deride such fanciful notions, yet to those who believe and have believed through the centuries, Mary's Boy, the Son of Man, the God-Man, has revealed Himself again and again as the Savior of the world.
He is indeed the Prince of Peace, and as someone once said, "Wise men still seek Him!" There is no Christmas without a Christ. There is no Christ without an incarnation. There is no incarnation without a virgin. And if there are none of these things, than neither can there be "Peace on earth" or "good will toward men."