Scripture
Matthew 1:18-25
John 1:14
Isaiah 9:6-7
Philippians 2:5-11
Emmanuel. Every single Christmas, that word draws my heart in. Emmanuel means God with us. In Matthew 1, quoting a prophecy in Isaiah 7:14, it says that, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel!” (Emmanuel and Immanuel are the same thing, but I’ll mainly use Emmanuel, because that’s how I’m used to spelling it…)
Jesus was given many names, both before he was born and afterwards. Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, and several more. But my favorite name for Jesus is Emmanuel. When he came to this earth as a tiny baby, growing inside his mother’s womb for 9 months or so, and was born into this world, he wasn’t just any ordinary baby. He was God with flesh on. God as a tiny, helpless, fragile, crying, precious baby.
He couldn’t have picked a humbler state. Like Paul says in Philippians 2:7, Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” But human likeness to the extent of how we all come into this world—as a bloody, slimy, tiny baby. It amazes me that God’s perfect plan came about in such a humble, beautiful, natural, yet miraculous way.
God chose to enter into this broken world, to live among humans, as a human, to feel what they feel, do what they do (except sin of course), experience what they experience, and to love them so deeply. I think of how when you talk to a small child, you often bend over, sit down, or squat, to put yourself on their level. In an overly-simplified way, God was doing that. He was getting on humanity’s level so that we could relate to him and him to us better.
For 30 some years, Jesus was literally, physically, with humanity, walking this earth. However, once he ascended and went back to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, that doesn’t mean that God isn’t with us anymore. He was there before and he is still there afterwards. He is always with us. Thankfully, he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us when we trust in Christ as our Savior. God with us in even a more personal, intimate way.
Emmanuel. God with us. That is what my heart longs for—God to be with me, to be with him, to know he is near, especially when I am hurting, grieving, in pain, or sad. I believe that’s what all of us long for as well. God has always been there, long before we were on this earth and even before the earth was created. But when Jesus came as Emmanuel, God was with us in a new way. I hope that you would experience Jesus as Emmanuel every day, not just at Christmas time. That you would deeply know in your heart, not just your head, that God is with you. When you’re feeling lonely, sad, or hurt, remember that God is with you. God with you. God with me. God with us. Emmanuel.
Prayer
Thank you for being Emmanuel, for being with us, and with me. It can be hard to remember that you are here with me when I cannot physically see you. Open my eyes to the evidence of you all around me. When I feel lonely, remind me that I am not alone because you are Emmanuel, you are with me.
Questions/Journal Prompts
Feel free to use these questions as a guide as you journal and/or pray.
1. What does “Emmanuel” mean to you?
2. Do you believe that God is with you? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think Jesus came to the earth the way he did?
Songs to listen to
Spend some time listening to these songs, reflecting on the words, and sitting with Jesus.
“God With Us” by All Sons & Daughters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udJjT-LMnIs
“Emmanuel (God With Us Forever)” by Bryan & Katie Torwalt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3op19xTt0Ms
“O Come O Come Emmanuel” by Maverick City Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtOi0IP0DCo
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