Dr. Couch, did Christ inherit any physical characteristics from Mary? Is
the sin nature passed on through the man, but not the mother?
Since Christ inherited His humanness through Mary, more than likely He
had physical features from her, though the Scriptures do not tell us
that. In God’s providence the virgin birth somehow played a role in the
fact that Christ did not take on sin through her humanness. Maybe this
would demonstrate that the sin nature is passed down through the father
and not the mother! I do not believe anyone can fully explain the
mechanism of how this worked. The Bible says God "made Him who knew no
sin to be sin on our behalf …" (2 Cor. 5:21). He was tempted "yet
without sin (or sinning)" (Heb. 4:15), and He was a high priest "holy,
innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners" (7:26). Peter quotes Isaiah
53:9 and says He "who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His
mouth" (1 Pet. 2:22).
The angel told Mary that within her, from the Holy Spirit, and from the
Most High, was "the holy offspring (thing)" that will be called "the Son
of God" (Luke 1:35). "Offspring" is used though it is not a masculine
in gender. The point is that there was going on a total "holy" happening
in her womb which would bring forth the Son of God! Because Christ
would be perfect and holy, Psalms 16 calls Him the Holy one. This is
quoted by Peter (Acts 2:25-28).
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
