Daily Digest: Capstone Capsule

“Behold, a virgin shall be with CHILD, and bear a SON, and they shall call His name IMMANUEL…” – Mathew 1:23a

To GLORIFY IMMANUEL – the God of Impact Who is ever with us – should be every Believer’s Goal: “Behold, a virgin shall be with CHILD, and bear a SON, and they shall call His name IMMANUEL,” which is translated, “GOD WITH US” (Matt.1:23). In this illuminating Name, are embedded deep reasons for this wonderful season. The name is sung in hymns and carols, designed on posters, and fills sermon titles; yet the true meaning and impact are often lost on multitudes. Centuries before Christ’s birth, God promised: “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); “For unto us a CHILD is BORN, unto us a SON is GIVEN…” (Isa.9:6a).

“…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. The definite historical fact is that He was as truly born as any other human being that ever lived on earth. He was, in His humanity a child born. God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity, took on flesh, was born at Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. 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. Jesus was begotten – not made, being One with the Father. The eternal Unity of the Trinity is a Mystery! Jesus, the Son was GIVEN: “For God so loved the world, that He GAVE His only begotten SON…” (Jh.3:16). David sang in Psalm 2:7, “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”

As he began to narrate the story of Christ’s birth, Mathew repeated Isaiah’s words; but proceeded further to interpret the name Immanuel: “…GOD WITH US” (Mt.1:23). With all of our sinfulness and rebellion, we should expect the peerlessly 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. This is not a glory to merely watch; it is one to rejoice and participate in! It had always been God over us, God above us, God before us, God on the mountain, in the temple, and in the cloud. Now, it’s GOD WITH US – in all aspects of life and destiny.