Key Scripture- “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” — which means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:22-23 NIV).

Author, Ann Spangler, says that the name “Immanuel” appears twice in the Hebrew Scriptures and once in the New Testament. One of the most comforting of all the names and titles of Jesus, it is literally translated “with us is God” or, as Matthew’s Gospel puts it, “God with us.”

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:18-19).

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”, (Matthew 1:20-21).

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ — which means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:22-23).

The name “Immanuel” (im-ma-nu-AIL) first appears in Isaiah 7:14 as part of a prophetic word that Isaiah spoke to King Ahaz of Judah (the southern kingdom) at a time when Syria and Israel (the northern kingdom) had formed a coalition against Assyria. The prophet Isaiah counseled Ahaz not to join in their uprising against Assyria, the region’s greatest power, assuring him it would not succeed. He urged Ahaz to trust in the Lord rather than to appeal to Assyria for help against Syria and Israel, who were threatening to invade Judah for not joining their uprising. Then he invited Ahaz to ask the Lord for a sign to confirm the prophetic word, but the unfaithful king refused, having already decided to place his trust not in the Lord but in Assyria. (Isaiah 7:7-12).

In response to Ahaz’s refusal to trust God, Isaiah proclaimed: “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of human beings? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7: 13-14). Shortly after that Syria and Israel were soundly defeated, exactly as Isaiah had prophesied.

Matthew’s Gospel recalls Isaiah’s prophecy, applying it to the child who would be born of Mary, the virgin betrothed to Joseph. The sign given hundreds of years earlier to an apostate king was meant for all God’s people.

In fact the Bible is nothing if not the story of God’s persistent desire to dwell with his people. In Jesus, God would succeed in a unique way, becoming a man in order to save the world, not from the outside, but from the inside. Immanuel, “God with us”, to rescue, redeem, and restore our relationship with Him.

When our sins made it impossible for us to come to Him, God took the outrageous step of coming to us, of making himself susceptible to sorrow, familiar with temptation, and vulnerable to sin’s disruptive power, in order to cancel its claim. In Jesus we see how extreme God’s love is for us. Remember this the next time you feel discouraged, abandoned, or afraid. For Jesus is still Immanuel — he is still “God with us.” “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).

So take some time today and everyday to rejoice over the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The angels in heaven above are still rejoicing over the birth of Jesus. Two thousand plus years has not diminished their enthusiasm. Likewise, all the angels in heaven above rejoice when there is a soul saved. Let all the earth and all of Heaven praise the Lord, for He alone is worthy to be praised.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, Immanuel, I praise you for your faithful love and for drawing near when I was far from you. Instead of casting me away from your presence, you came to call me home. Instead of punishing me for my sins, you came to free me from them. Thank You for Your, Son, Jesus Christ, who was born on this day to save us from sin and death. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18). O come let us adore Him, Christ The Lord! I adore You, Jesus! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.