CELEBRATING IMMANUEL

“Behold, a virgin shall be with CHILD, and bear a SON, and they shall call His name IMMANUEL,” which is translated, “GOD WITH US” – Mathew 1:23

IMMANUEL – such an illuminating name, in which are embedded deep reasons for this wonderful season. The name adorns Christmas cards, is sung in hymns and carols, painted on banners, and fills sermon titles; yet the impact is often lost on us as we overlook or are unaware of its true meaning. Centuries before Christ was born, God promised through the prophet: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a SON, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isa.7:14). Also, “For unto us a CHILD is BORN, unto us a SON is GIVEN: and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa.9:6).

“…Unto us a CHILD is BORN…” In His human nature, Jesus was born as a child, begotten of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. He was as truly born, as certainly a child, as any other human being that ever lived on earth. He was, in His humanity a child born. This is an undisputable historical fact: God the Son, the third Person of the Trinity, took on flesh, was born at Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. We’ll never cease celebrating the Birth of the Child Jesus. That’s where the story of redemption began to unfold on earth. But, there is more…

“…Unto us a SON is GIVEN…”  Jesus was not only born, but GIVEN by the Father from before the worlds began. He was begotten – not made, being One with the Father. What a mystery, the eternal Unity of Trinity! Jesus, the Son was GIVEN: “For God so loved the world, that He GAVE His only begotten SON…” (Jh.3:16). The Psalmist sang: “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You” (Psa.2:7). The Father and the Holy Spirit confirmed Jesus as the Son: “Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mt.3:16-17; 17:5).

As he began to tell the story of Christ’s birth, Mathew repeated Isaiah’s words; but went further to interpret the name Immanuel: “…GOD WITH US” (Mt.1:23). With all of our sinfulness and rebellion, we should expect the holy God to be finished with us, to wash His hands off us, to keep us far off from Him, to cut us off forever, or to annihilate us completely. Instead, He bound Himself to us forever by the death on the cross. He committed Himself to be with us for all eternity! The glory of this season is the precious truth that God drew near to sinful creation, and embraced us irrevocably and forever. It is not a glory we simply watch; it is one we celebrate and participate in! It had always been God over us, God above us, God before us, God on the mountain, God in the temple, God in the cloud; but never before had it been God with us!