If there is one time of the year that the world might remember the word “Immanuel”, it is at Christmas. A time when Christians remember the unique birth of Jesus. We read about “Immanuel” in Matthew 1:23.

1. The mystery

God has become one of us. It is a mystery that the angels could only marvel at in astonishment. We need to contemplate this truth at Christmas time. John wrote about this mystery. See John 1:14. Paul wrote about it in Philippians 2:5-8. Isaiah prophesied it in Isaiah 7:14 many years before it happened. See 1 Timothy 3:16. Paul makes it clear it is a great truth and mystery. Almighty God has come down to planet Earth to be flesh and blood like one of us. The Son of God is born on earth with limitations of height, age and weight. There is nothing in literature that come close to these momentous event. The world that is in darkness has been visited by the light of the world. He is born in human limitation in humble surrounding. He handicaps himself by being born as a small child on this world. From the maker of creation to experience the limits of creation. It is a truth that is mind-numbing. The creator in a crib. He made all flesh and is Himself flesh.

2. The meaning

• We can endure the difficult circumstances of life – When God is with us we know we have help from a helper. See Hebrews 13:5-6. God promises to never leave us alone. We don’t have to be afraid. The Lord is with you. See Psalm 27:1. If God is with you who can be against you. There is nothing more powerful than God. See Psalm 118:6 and Isaiah 43:2. It our experience that God is with us in the difficult times. God is there in the big and small storms of life. He is there to help us.
• We can expect direct answer to our prayers – See Hebrews 4:14-15. Jesus is the Great High Priest. The veil was rent in two when Jesus died. He has experience of every weakness known to man apart from sin. He has been there and done that. He understands, He has sympathy and compassion. We can come boldly to God and He will give us grace. Our prayer goes direct to the throne of God. God identifies with our weaknesses and difficulties.
• We can embrace the demanding challenges of God’s ministry – Often in the Bible the person that God goes to do ministry is reluctant to do it. Moses was reluctant to lead the people out of Egypt. He had an excuse but God had the answer. See Exodus 4:12. Joshua was afraid to take the people into the Promised Land. God will be with him. See Joshua 1:9. Jeremiah didn’t want to go to the people with a grim message that would be rejected. See Jeremiah 1:8. He was not to be afraid of their faces. Jesus gives us all a message. See Matthew 28:20. The mission and ministry need God’s people to go out and not be afraid.  If God is with us then what have we to fear? We might translate the Bible, witness to sinful people and those in false religion, restore those whom have backside, support missionary or Church work or pray for those looking for answers to life and death issues.

There was nothing glamorous about Immanuel. See Luke 2:12. He wasn’t born in a palace and a crown placed on his head. His life will be taken away as he is mocked, beaten and crucified on a cross. He laid down His life and took it back up in glorious resurrection. The gulf was too great for most people to understand without the resurrection. He is returning a second time and this time it will be in all the majesty and glory that He deserves.

Categories: Matthew