Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas – Day #15 Emmanuel...God with Us (Matthew 1:21-25)
Emmanuel...God with Us (Matthew 1:21-25) Matthew 1:21-25, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.” There is a great yearning inside every person to know God. Romans 1:20, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” From the very beginning, we were made to know God, and there is something in us that wants to know our Creator. We yearn to know that God has broken through into our world. It is not enough to know that God is “up there” or “out there” somewhere. We want to know that God has come down to where we are, that He knows where we live, that He knows our name, that He cares about us, that He has walked the valleys and deserts the same way we do. We want to know that we are not alone in this universe. All the prophets spoke of this universal yearning in the human heart. Joel spoke of it, so did Malachi, Hosea, Jeremiah, Daniel and Zechariah. But no one spoke more eloquently than Isaiah. Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, during the reign of a king named Ahaz, Isaiah predicted the birth of One who would be God coming to dwell with men. Isaiah 7:14 predicts an absolutely stunning event. Something that had never happened before and has never happened since. A virgin would conceive and give birth to a son named “Immanuel.” 1. The Name of Jesus is one of Fulfillment. As directed by the angel in a dream, Joseph called the child’s name Jesus. The name Jesus places emphasis upon Him as being the Redeemer for the sins of mankind. Jesus. Joseph clearly was a just and godly man as evidenced in his obedience to the commands of God. This name is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Jesus came as Immanuel to do God, the Father’s, will (Hebrews 10:5-7). The Old Testament sacrificial system was never meant to take away sin but to help people see their need for a Saviour. It was never the people’s bulls and goats that the Father wanted; He wanted their faith in His forgiveness and grace. God, the Father, sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, through the virgin birth. No one else could meet the qualifications of this statement, "God with us." Jesus Christ was God's love, holiness, and heart wrapped in human flesh. He was God walking in sandals upon this earth. Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Jesus’ birth was prophesied hundreds of years before He was born (Isaiah 7:14). God spoke through the prophet Isaiah when he foretold that a young virgin would give birth to a totally unique Son. Isaiah even gave the Son’s name, Immanuel, which means God with us. The birth of Immanuel reminds us of Jesus’ unique identity as the God-Man (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus, the child, was born to Mary in a manger several thousand years ago, proving that He is human. God the Father gave us His only begotten Son, the eternal Son of God, to live among the human beings He created. The Son of God became the Son of Man so the sons of men could become the sons of God. The purpose of Christ’s coming is He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). You will never understand who Jesus is until you realize that He came to save you from your sins. This is why He lived, this is why He died, and this is why He rose from the dead. And He saves all those who trust in Him. 2. The Name of Jesus is one of Fellowship. International conflicts, civil war, and hatred seem to rule in our world. Unrest even hits close to home when interpersonal strife plagues our own lives. But the most difficult turbulence to endure is when we have no peace with our Creator. Whether or not we acknowledge it, nothing will destroy someone more from the inside out than a lack of peace with God. We know what peace is. Peace is calm instead of conflict, harmony instead of chaos. And the One who give us peace is Immanuel, Jesus Christ, our Prince of Peace. He is the one who can put together what’s unraveling in our world. He is the One who can speak peace in the middle of a storm. God is with us now in Christ. We are reconciled to the Lord. II Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” In Isaiah 7:14, the proper name Immanuel points to the child who would symbolize God’s presence with His people. And God’s presence wasn’t meant just to comfort His people but to deliver them from their sin. While many people in Jesus’ time expected Him to deliver Israel from the oppressive Roman dominion, Jesus’ mission would provide the means by which they would be delivered from the dominion of sin and its eternal consequences. Remember that He is always with you and to help you trust that He has provided the way for you to have peace with God. 3. The Name of Jesus is one of Festivity. There is joy in knowing Emmanuel, Jesus Christ. Luke 2:10, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” He now come to one of the most beautiful names that has ever graced the lips of mortal man. It is a name that invokes comfort, freedom, and rest in the believer or conflict, fury, and rebellion in the unbeliever or backslider. He paid the price so that you can understand that He is Immanuel, the God-Man, who wants to give you eternal peace. Jesus Christ paid a high price, not so that you can eat turkey dinner, have a family celebration, and open expensive presents at Christmas. Remember Jesus is the reason for the season. Keep Christ in CHRISTmas. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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