Immanuel

Immanuel is one of the more well-known names of Jesus especially this time of year. It is in many of the songs we sing and Scripture that we read. We may even know that it means “God with us,” but how often do we meditate on the significance and the impact of Immanuel? The past few days, my mind has been swirling with thoughts of Immanuel – the significance, the impact, transformation, hope, and joy.

Our pastor started teaching from Luke three weeks ago. We have been looking in detail at the beginnings of the Christmas story in Luke’s account. I have been reading The First Songs of Christmas: A 31-Day Advent Devotional: Meditations on Luke 1 & 2 by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. She makes a thorough examination of Elizabeth’s and Mary’s songs. Again, it has been so good to slow down and ponder the many facets of the Christmas story. And then, I’ve been studying the names of Jesus. I’ve been seeing Jesus with new eyes and wonder. I’m grateful for God’s grace in walking me gradually through His Word when I am tempted to rush. I’m praying that in my weakness I don’t lose the wonder when the Christmas season is past.

Immanuel (or Emmanuel) is mentioned only three times in Scripture. The first is our text in Isaiah 7:14 which is quoted in Matthew 1:23. Immanuel is also used in Isaiah 8:8. “This refers back to the ‘Immanuel’ prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. The land the Assyrians will invade doesn't really belong to Judah or to King Ahaz. It belongs to the LORD God, to the coming Messiah, to Immanuel.”[1] Let’s read Isaiah 7:14.

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

God was speaking through Isaiah to King Ahaz of Judah (bad king, 2 Kings 16:2-3). The king from Israel (during Israel’s divided kingdom period) and the king from Syria were ready to make war on Judah. In God’s mercy and for His purposes, God sent Isaiah to Ahaz to encourage him not to be afraid, essentially to trust God. God instructed Ahaz to ask for a sign. Ahaz refused, feigning reverence for God. God gave him a sign anyway – the promise of Immanuel. Ahaz did not live to see this sign fulfilled, but it is just one of many prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. The name given to Jesus in this prophecy gives us insight into who Jesus is.

Immanuel is God incarnate. Jesus, the second Person in the Trinity, took on flesh to dwell with men as fully man yet still fully God. I know I often brush over the significance of this. Last week we saw Jesus as I AM – self-existent God. Jesus is almighty, and yet Immanuel came as a helpless baby dependent on His parents to care for Him. He is the very Word that created all that exists. Immanuel’s words were cries, and He had to learn to speak. He sustains and holds all things together (Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:3b), yet Immanuel was held by Mary and Joseph and was sustained by food, drink, and rest. Immanuel exchanged the glory of heaven, the glory He is due, to be born into a family marked with shame by His own birth. He was scorned, mocked, and betrayed. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, but Immanuel submitted Himself to His parents and to the governing authorities. Immanuel left the place of no tears or dying to suffer and die in our place in the most shameful death possible. Immanuel willingly surrendered on the cross His perfect fellowship with the Father. God turned away as Immanuel took all our sin on Himself and experienced the full wrath and judgment of the Father, so that those in Immanuel would never have to. There are more comparisons we could make of what it meant for Jesus to be Immanuel, God with us, God incarnate. It is good for us to dwell on what being Immanuel meant for Jesus. It was costly for Immanuel, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

For us, Immanuel is grace upon grace. In answer to Philip’s question to be shown the Father, Jesus replied, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9b). We know from Exodus 33:18-23 that God allowed Moses to see His goodness pass by, but Moses was not allowed to see God’s face lest he die. Yet, in Immanuel we can see the Father. Although, we were not physically with Jesus while He walked on earth, we have Jesus’ life and teachings in Scripture. He is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), and “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3a). In Immanuel, people could see the face of God and live. We too can know the Father more fully because we know Immanuel.

We see the Father’s heart throughout Scripture and read of miracles, but in Immanuel we witness as He heals the sick, restores sight, hearing and inactive limbs, raises the dead, welcomes children, multiplies food, grants forgiveness, and eats with and physically touches the outcasts and those considered unclean. Immanuel lived every day in human form revealing the Father’s love for the lost and broken. Because of Immanuel, we know He also loves and cares for us.

Immanuel can sympathize with our weaknesses. In every respect, He was tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Not only was Immanuel tempted in every respect, He experienced tiredness, hunger, pain, suffering, betrayal, loss, homelessness, sadness, and abandonment. Immanuel understands and sympathizes with everything you experience because He experienced it too.

Immanuel was fully God and fully man. He was the only One who could make atonement for our sin. We have sinned against God, yet He redeemed us through the blood of His own Son, Immanuel. Immanuel who took on flesh and blood. Without Immanuel we would still be separated from God and destined for hell. This is the crucial way that Immanuel transforms us. God incarnate provided the way for our salvation.

Immanuel also sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us. God is still with us. Through the Spirit’s work in us, we are being sanctified – continually conformed to the image of Immanuel until God completes His transforming work in us (Philippians 1:6).

Immanuel gives us hope because one day God will bring a new heaven and a new earth, and “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).

Immanuel brings us joy because we are never alone. Jesus took our sin, past present and future, and gave us His righteousness, so we would never be separated from God’s love again (Romans 8:38-39).

There is a song I have been listening to over and over. I especially love the chorus of “Emmanuel (Hope of Heaven) by North Point Worship. I encourage you to listen to the whole song, but I would like to close with the chorus.

Emmanuel

Emmanuel

Jesus Hope of Heaven, here to dwell

Oh, sing my soul

For it is well

Rejoice, rejoice

Emmanuel

Emmanuel

Reflection

1. In what ways has Immanuel – God with us, God incarnate – transformed you? What difference does it make in your life personally that Jesus took on flesh?

2. What about Immanuel gives you hope? (It doesn’t have to be limited to your future hope. It might be hope from His life on earth.)

3. How does Immanuel bring you joy? How does it encourage you that you are never alone, that Immanuel is always with you and always will be with you?

4. Here are some songs about Immanuel you can listen to and continue meditating on the good news of Immanuel.

• “Wonderful” by Cain with Steven Curtis Chapman

• "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

• "Sing We the Song of Emmanuel" by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa

• “God is With Us” by Casting Crowns

• “Emmanuel” by Michael W. Smith

• “Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)” by Chris Tomlin

• “Emmanuel” by Love & the Outcome

• “Emmanuel Has Come” by Don Moen

• “Emmanuel, God With Us” by Christ Tomlin

• “Emmanuel, God With Us” by Amy Grant

• “What Child is This/Praise Emmanuel” by Paul Baloche

• “Holy Emmanuel” by Tony Scott Taylor

• “The Name of Emmanuel” by Matt Redman

• “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” by many artists, pick your favorite

• "Joy to the World" by Jason Gray

[1] Guzik, David. David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible: Isaiah. Santa Barbara: David Guzik, 2000.