“Christmas in One Word”
December 25, 2021
If we were to sum up Christmas in one word, it would be “Immanuel” (God with us). The prophet, Isaiah, was the first to introduce us to this glorious name, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
We know, without any doubt, that this prophecy concerns Jesus Christ, because in the opening chapter of the New Testament, Matthew 1:20-23 makes this connection:
“20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 23All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.”
One of the most comforting names of Jesus is “Immanuel” which literally means, “God with us”! This title captures the mystery and the miracle that is Christmas. The Almighty God, who crafted the galaxies with His bare hands (Genesis 1:1), the Eternal Word, Who always was and always will be (John 1:1), came to Earth in the form of a helpless baby. Why? Because our sins made it impossible for us to come to Him. God took the extravagant, most loving 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. God did not remain in Heaven and love us from a distance.
The fact is, God is with us, and the command given to Joshua is the command to us as well, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened; do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
The more we think about the fact that the God of the Universe became our “Immanuel”, the more we experience an overwhelming sense of calm. No matter where we go, or what we face, He walks beside us, offering comfort, wisdom, and strength. This is nothing short of a miracle… and this miracle is the key to the magic and beauty of Christmas!
How have you experienced Immanuel — God being with you, in your life thus far? It is interesting to note that Matthew begins (Matthew 1:20–23) and ends his Gospel with the promise—God is with us.
“19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
All the giving, gathering, and gaiety that man has connected with Christmas, pales in comparison to what God did that first Christmas, in coming to be with us as IMMANUEL!
Merry, mighty Christmas to you and your loved ones! May Christmas be a season of being spiritually close to God and others, whether socially distancing or not. May you GIVE, GATHER, and have GAIETY, unlike any other Christmas, because GOD IS WITH US.