The Heidelberg Catechism (14) (Explained for Children)
Lord's Day 14 speaks about the third article of the Twelve Articles.
Question 35: What is the meaning of these words—”He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary”?
Answer: That God's eternal Son, who is, and continueth true and eternal God, took upon Him the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary, by the operation of the Holy Ghost; that He might also be the true seed of David, like unto His brethren in all things, sin excepted.
The catechism now explains what the Lord Jesus has done in order to be the Mediator and Deliverer. He desired to be man, and this was necessary to be able to save sinners. We learned this in Lord's Day 6. He became man, and yet He also remained God. No one can really comprehend this.
In order to become man, one must be born. For that reason the Lord desired to be born just as other men are. It can also be said that by His birth He assumed the human nature. No, it was not the human nature which Adam received from God in Paradise. Adam was created perfect. He did not know what pain and sorrow were. Jesus, however, did. He suffered much pain and sorrow. His birth was the beginning of a life full of sorrow and misery. He knew of this before He was born. He knew what terrible things would happen to Him. But it could not be otherwise. Only in this way could He be the true Savior. What a love He had for His people!
When a child is born to a mother, there is always a father. But Jesus did not have an earthly father. I think you know that Joseph was not His real father. How can that be? The Holy Ghost provided a way. That is the reason it is said that He was conceived by the Holy Ghost. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and then born of Mary.
The third article says, “Of the Virgin Mary.” Yes, Mary was a virgin, meaning that she did not live with a man. Later she did, after the Lord Jesus was born. Then she was married to Joseph. Here again we hear that Jesus had no earthly father. In this way it was also possible that He was born a Holy One.
Just like all other children, He learned to walk and talk as a small boy. But He never did anything wrong. He never sinned but remained without sin from the time of His conception and birth.
His mother Mary was of the family of David, and thus Jesus was also. Therefore He is often called the Son of David. The Lord long before had promised that the Savior would be born out of David's family, and that is why He is said to be of the seed of David.
The Lord Jesus desired to be like unto all His children, like unto them in all things. He also suffered all the sorrow and pain which His children suffer. Therefore He calls His children His brothers. Brothers belong together; brothers are much alike. But in one thing He was different from His brothers. He remained without sin, but His brothers are all sinful men.
Question 36: What profit dost thou receive by Christ's holy conception and nativity?
Answer: That He is our Mediator, and with His innocence and perfect holiness, covers in the sight of God, my sins, wherein I was conceived and brought forth.
The question is asked as to the profit of His holy conception and birth. Of what benefit was this?
The answer is given that He is our Mediator. Again, what is a Mediator? A Mediator makes things well between the holy God and sinful man. Jesus is the only true Mediator. At His conception and birth He was already actively busy as Mediator, for it then began. This activity was possible because He Himself was innocent and holy and always remained so. He is the Mediator for His children, who have so many sins and much guilt. Indeed, they have sin and guilt even before they are born. Even while they are still in the womb of their mother, all people are already sinners. This we call original sin, and it comes about because Adam, the father of us all, sinned in Paradise. For that reason, we are all conceived and born in sin.
You will recall that for the Lord Jesus it was different. He did not have an earthly father. He had no original sin, while our hearts are vile and evil because of sin. But what does the Lord Jesus do for all His children? He says, 'T know how vile you are, but I will cover your sins.” It is just like when one covers something that is vile and evil with a cloth. Then you do not see the vile and evil anymore. But with what does He cover the vile heart? He covers it with His innocence and holiness, which is as a cloth to cover the sins of His people. Then His Father will say, “I no longer consider the sins of My people, and I will no longer look upon them.” Thus the Lord Jesus is already the Mediator of His children when they are yet quite young.
You will therefore understand why also very small children can be saved. It is because the Lord Jesus has also been born. You must remember that you are never too small or too young to be converted!
— H. van Dam
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Bekijk de hele uitgave van maandag 1 november 2004
The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's
Bekijk de hele uitgave van maandag 1 november 2004
The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's