Immanuel is a name that we often associate with Christmas because it means “God with us.” Truly God came down to earth in the form of a baby. During Christmas, you’ll hear this title in songs, in sermons, and in Christmas dramas. It truly is what Christmas is all about. It was a promise God spoke about through his prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Meaning that God in the flesh would reside here as a man, but still be 100%, God.
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Albert Barnes says “Matthew had just given an account of the miraculous conception of Jesus: of his being begotten by the Holy Spirit. God was, therefore, his Father. He was divine as well as human. His appropriate name, therefore, was “God with us.” And though the mere use of such a name would not prove that he had a divine nature, yet as Matthew uses it, and meant evidently to apply it, it does prove that Jesus was more than a man; that he was God as well as man. And it is this which gives glory to the plan of redemption.
The mere thought of God giving up his Son to leave heaven and come to earth, where mankind had traded the goodness and righteousness of God for “sin for a season,” puts my mind in a whirlwind. If that were not enough to boggle the mind, add to that why he came. These facts are amazing!
Philippians 2:6-8 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
These facts give us much to think upon and be grateful for. First, God would give up his Son to come and live and die for me. Second, that Jesus would be willing to do it! Such love has never been expressed by any human. For the first, and only time, God and Jesus would be separated when our sin was placed on Jesus on the cross. God is holy, and it is an attribute he will not violate. Therefore, he could not look upon his only Son, when our sin was placed on him.
All of this because he sought a personal relationship with us. A relationship that could only happen by a perfect sacrifice.
Because of that sacrifice, our debt was paid. A debt we owed, but could not pay. Jesus came as our Immanuel, and when he went back to heaven he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. As a person who has accepted Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord, I can claim another promise he gave in Hebrews 13:5b, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” This promise is mine and will last throughout all eternity to all who continue to believe.
On this earth, we have those we love and never want to live without, but we know that there are circumstances that cause us to have to depart from one another. Sometimes it’s sin. One person chooses their sin over the love of another. Sometimes it’s through responsibilities: military, jobs, the call to a mission field. Then there is death. Yes, we will see them again if both are Christians, but the Holy Spirit will NEVER leave us if we are following God. He will be with us in foreign countries, in sickness, in our loneliness, and yes, he will be with us in death. He will be with us and guide us to our destination. From our time of salvation and throughout all eternity, he will be with us. Our Immanuel!
This Christmas take some time to ponder these thoughts. Jesus is with us if we are a Christian. His Spirit lives within us when we chose to surrender and follow Him. What is Christmas to you? Is it all the family and fun things, the stress of shopping and going in debt for gifts? Is it having a few days off work to relax? Or, is this the time to rekindle the fire within you that burns deep to please the “God with you?”
