The True Meaning of Emmanuel: God With Us
TEXT: Matthew 1:18-25
As we approach the Christmas season, our hearts and minds often turn to the familiar story of Jesus' birth; granted I know that this time of the year elicits all kinds of emotions, thoughts and ideas, but have you ever paused to truly contemplate the profound meaning behind one of His most significant names - Emmanuel?
Emmanuel, meaning "God with us," encapsulates the very essence of the Christmas message. In other words if you had to define Christmas it would be that simple three word phrase: “God with us”.
Make no mistake though, it's a name that carries weight, significance, and hope. Let's delve deeper into what this name truly means and how it impacts our lives today.
Jesus Christ is God
The concept of Emmanuel - God with us - begins with the astounding claim that Jesus Christ is, in fact, God Himself. This isn't just a figurative statement; it's a literal truth that shook the foundations of religious understanding two thousand years ago and continues to do so today.
Matthew's gospel quotes the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14, declaring that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a son called Emmanuel. For centuries, this prophecy was seen as figurative by Jewish scholars. But Matthew(a Jew), along with the other Gospel writers(many of which were Jewish) and apostles (many of which were Jewish) , boldly proclaimed that in Jesus, this prophecy was literally fulfilled.
Consider the gravity of this claim. In a culture steeped in strict monotheism, multiple Jewish men - Matthew, John, Paul, Peter - all affirmed that Jesus was not just a great teacher or prophet, but God Himself. Jesus forgave sins, claimed the divine name "I Am," and spoke of judging the earth - all prerogatives of God alone.
This claim creates a crisis - a fork in the road for every person who encounters it. We must decide: do we believe Jesus is who He said He is, or not? There's no middle ground. This decision shapes the entire trajectory of our lives. BTW, many modern-day skeptics claim that the Jesus of the Bible never claimed diety, which speaks to their ignorance of the Scriptures and the Jesus of the Bible. He proved His Diety in many ways, not the least of which in His Resurrection from the Dead.
But far from being just a philosophical conundrum, this truth offers immense comfort. If Jesus is God, then we're not left to our own devices to reach Him. Religion often tells us what we must do to please God, but Christianity proclaims that God Himself has come to us, to do for us what we could never do ourselves. This is grace in its purest form.
Jesus is Fully Human
The miracle of the incarnation isn't just that Jesus is fully God - it's that He's also fully human. This dual nature of Christ offers us both infinite consolation and joyful humility.
Have you ever felt that no one truly understands your pain or struggles? The beauty of Christ's humanity is that He does understand. He experienced poverty, betrayal, suffering, and death. Whatever you're going through, Jesus has been there. He's not a distant deity, but a God who chose to enter into the messiness of human existence.
This truth doesn't necessarily explain the reason for our individual sufferings, but it does assure us of what our suffering is not. It's not because God doesn't love us or doesn't care. The very fact that He willingly entered into human suffering proves His deep love and concern for us.
Jesus is With Us
The name Emmanuel goes beyond just stating that Jesus came to earth. It speaks of relationship - God with us. But what does it truly mean to have Jesus "with us" in an intimate, transformative way?
The Gospel of Matthew suggests it requires courage - courage of three kinds:
Courage to face the world's disdain: Just as Joseph had to brave potential shame and rejection to marry Mary, following Jesus often means facing misunderstanding and even rejection from those around us. But God promises to be our honor and vindication.
Courage to surrender control: Joseph had to give up his right to name his child, symbolizing a deeper surrender of self-determination. To truly have Jesus "with us," we must be willing to let Him be Lord of our lives, not just a consultant we occasionally seek advice from.
Courage to admit we're sinners: This is most fundamental. Jesus came to "save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Acknowledging our need for forgiveness and salvation is the foundation for everything else Jesus offers us. Many want Jesus for the peace and other virtues He offers, but those can never be had unless we confess our sinful condition and receive forgiveness.
Where can we find such courage? By looking at Jesus Himself. If it takes courage for us to be with Him, consider how much more courage it took for Him to be with us. In becoming human, God made Himself vulnerable, killable, betrayable. Yet He considered it worth it - all because of love.
Think of a mother bear's fierce courage in protecting her cub. That courage comes from love. In an infinitely greater way, Christ's courage to enter our world and die for us stems from His unfathomable love.
Reflections for Today
As we ponder the name Emmanuel this Christmas season, let's consider:
How does the truth that Jesus is fully God challenge or comfort you?
In what areas of your life do you need to remember that Jesus, being fully human, understands your struggles?
What would it look like for you to courageously invite Jesus to be "with you" in a deeper way?
How can meditating on Christ's courage to become Emmanuel inspire you to live more boldly for Him?
The message of Emmanuel - God with us - is both a crisis and a comfort. It challenges us to decide what we believe about Jesus and how we'll respond to His claim on our lives. But it also offers unparalleled hope, assuring us that we're never alone, never beyond understanding, and never beyond the reach of God's love.
This Christmas, may we not just sing about Emmanuel, but truly experience the transformative power of God with us. May we find the courage to let Him into every aspect of our lives, knowing that His presence brings grace, consolation, and hope beyond measure.
