Immanuel, God With Us
God — the Mighty One, the Self-Sustaining One, the Most High, the Everlasting — became human. For you. For me. For the whole world.
All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). (Isaiah 7:14)
Have you ever wanted a hug from Jesus? I have. I mean, I’m a fan of hugs. And I can’t wait for the day when I get to hug my Savior. A big, warm, squishy hug.
I think about the Disciples and the people who knew Jesus when He walked the Earth. How fortunate, how blessed they were to know Him that way! To recognize the lines in His face or the tone of His voice. I know Scripture tells us that those of us who believe in Jesus without seeing Him are more blessed than those who saw Him, but I still want a hug.
The last name we’re going to talk about in this study is probably my favorite, or at least it’s the one that makes me cry the fastest.
Immanuel. God With Us.
God in skin. The Creator living among the Created. The Infinite in the Finite. The Self-Sustaining One in a dying body.
Think of the dirtiest, ugliest, smelliest creature you have ever seen. Something disgusting. Something weak and powerless and selfish. I don’t know what that might be. A slug? A leech? Whatever it is, imagine choosing to become that thing. Imagine choosing to give up your rights as a human being, your capabilities, your intellect, your culture, your home.
Even if we could imagine that, it’s not a good enough analogy. God — the Mighty One, the Self-Sustaining One, the Most High, the Everlasting — became human.
Why?
For you.
For me.
For the whole world. So that we could have a choice of where to spend our eternity. If Jesus hadn’t been willing to do this, we would have been left dead in our sins. Our inheritance would have been death—separation from God. But because of what Jesus did for us, our inheritance is abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven.
I can’t speak for you. I can’t speak for anyone but myself. But that takes my breath away. To be loved so much that anyone—let alone God Himself—would give so much for me, I don’t understand it. But I’m thankful for it. And I receive it because without it I have no hope.
Two thousand years ago, God walked with us for 33 years. Another day is coming soon — sooner than we think — where God will walk with us again. God’s home will be among His people.
Choose to follow Him now while there’s still time. Immanuel means hope. Immanuel means life. Immanuel means salvation.
Immanuel, God With Us, is Jesus, and there is no other name by which we can be saved.
Questions for Reflection
If you had been able to walk with Jesus when He was on the Earth, what would you have done?
What does the name Immanuel make you feel?
How does it feel to know what Jesus was willing to give for your life?
Weekly Memory Verse
