… they will call him Immanuel — which means, “God with us.” (Matt. 1:23)
What a powerful description of Jesus — “God with us.”
Reflect on the Significance of Immanuel, God With Us
Using Scripture to interpret Scripture, let’s look at each of the three words in that highly significant name given to Jesus.
GOD with us.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Heb. 1:3)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (Jn. 1:1-5)
God WITH us.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:14)
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:6-8)
God with US.
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet TO ALL WHO RECEIVED HIM, TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (Jn. 1:9-13)
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt. 28:20)
Let’s make sure the One we celebrate is more than a baby in a manager. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us!
For More About Jesus: Christology Resources