Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23
Isaiah 7:14 says The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.
Permit me to explain
These gracious words were spoken by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah about 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. This prophecy like some other old testament prophecies seemed to have a double fulfilment.
That is the prophecy was fulfilled in the days around when it was first given for King Ahaz.
However, its second and much greater fulfilment came several hundred years later when Jesus Christ was born.
We know this Immanuel prophecy about was about Jesus because the Gospel of
Matthew 1:23 quotes the Isaiah 7:14 scripture as follows
Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Please note that both spellings are acceptable that is Immanuel and Emmanuel.
So, what does Emmanuel or 'God with us' mean?
Emmanuel in a sense is an overview of God's full plan of salvation for mankind.
First God becomes a actual man of flesh and blood, he can feel pain and the full range of human emotions.
This brings God in a new way into a full identification with mankind.
He now knows exactly what it is like to be a human being.
This baby born in a manger, grows up to become the Messiah the Saviour, who at the end of his life saves mankind from our greatest foe...not the Romans, not the Egyptians, not the Russians… mankind's biggest foe is sin or we could say acting against God's wishes.
This unique baby went on to provide a way back to God for mankind for all of us have gone astray.
Imagine that, God the Son was with us and is still with us!
What does that mean to you?
Yes, that little baby in the manger, grew up to become the suffering Messiah who has provided a way back to God for all who want it.
We can rejoice in Emmanuel
We rejoice that God is with us.
We can rejoice in God’s greatest ever gift Christmas gift- Immanuel, Jesus Christ who came to take our sins. If this is new to you then check out the teaching below 'How to be born again'.
Amen
Personal prayer