Our Journey to Bethlehem – Day 23 I Jesus came to be with us, ‘Emmanuel’

The name Immanuel appears twice in the Scriptures (Is. 7: 14, 8: 8) and once in the New Testament. In Greek, it is rendered Immanuel.  Immanuel first appears in the Scripture, it in Isaiah 7:14, which says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; The virgin will conceive, and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel”. All this took place to fulfil what the LORD had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (‘God with us’). — Matthew 1: 22–23

This act, which occurred in the birth of Christ, was God-ordained and God-accomplished. This points to grace, which comes not through human effort but rather through relying on God to do what we humans cannot. This was the reason Christ came. God gave us this Child, named Emmanuel, which literally means, “with us is God,” or “God with us.” 

In truth, God is and always has been with us. He is omnipresent, which means He is everywhere all the time. Christ enough is great enough and the Only One to be called, God with us. He became flesh, Human Incarnate and tabernacled His tent of flesh, among us and we saw His Glory. This miracle and marvel of Immanuel, defies description and is inexplicable. 

Jesus was the heart of God wrapped in human flesh and in the garb of humanity. He promised us ‘… and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ Matt. 28:20. So we follow the One, Who said “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’ (Heb. 13: 5). He is Immanuel, He is with us. He will remain with us. Let us remain with Him, enriched by His fellowship, strengthened by His presence, led by His guidance.