Matthew says that the birth of Jesus by the Virgin Mary is 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 Emmanuel’ (which means, GOD WITH US)” (1:22-23).
Thus, Matthew tells his readers that Jesus’ birth fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah and goes on to explain what the word “Emmanuel” means, “God with us.”
If Jesus is Emmanuel, then we realize we don’t have to go anywhere to meet him other than the hurly-burly reality of our Monday mornings and our Thursday afternoons. We don’t have to go find him in some other realm because he has already found us in exactly this realm and this world.
Emmanuel is God-with-us in the cancer clinic and in the Alzheimer’s ward at the local nursing home. Emmanuel is God-with-us when the pink slip comes and when your beloved child sneers, “I hate you!”
Emmanuel is God-with-us when you pack the Christmas decorations away and, with an aching heart, you realize afresh that your one son never did call you over the holidays. Not once.
Emmanuel is God-with-us when your dear wife or mother stares at you with an Alzheimer’s glaze and absently asks, “What was your name again?”
Ever and always Jesus stares straight into you with his two good eyes and he does so not only when you can smile back but most certainly also when your own eyes are full of tears. In fact, Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with you” even in those times when you are so angry with God that you refuse to meet his eyes.
But even when you feel like you can’t look at him, Jesus never looks away from you. He can’t. His name says it all. Emmanuel.
Thanks to Scott Hoezee
When was the last time YOU felt Emmanuel, “God with you” in YOUR life?
CHRISTMAS BEGAN IN THE HEART OF GOD. IT IS COMPLETE ONLY WHEN IT REACHES YOUR HEART AND MINE!
