Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Immanuel

Immanuel.  God with us.

The name shows up in the Old Testament, in the New Testament:

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

So all this was done that might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." - Matthew 1:22-23

Isaiah's prophecy.  Matthew's fulfillment.  What God says He will do, He does.

Immanuel is my favorite name for Jesus.  For God with us reminds me that we have a Savior Who understands what it's like, and how hard it is, to be human.  Who's experienced hunger and pain and discouragement and tiredness and grief and sickness and temptation.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. - Hebrews 4:15

For we have not a Creator who knows nothing of the difficulties of being a creature nor do we have a tyrant sovereign in an ivory tower who rules by hate.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:16

God with us.  Why did He do it?

For the love of us.  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. - I John 4:9

Immanuel.  God with us.  I can't begin to understand this manner of love.  It's a good thing I don't have to understand it . . . just bask in it.
 

2 comments:

Vicki said...

Beautiful! This post prompted me to praise my Saviour!

Brianna said...

I bleieve Immanuel is my favorite name of God ;)