Jesus goes by many names:
Jesus is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name Yeshua (Joshua), meaning “salvation.”
Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean “anointed one.”
Isaiah 9:6 prophesied that Jesus would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
John the Baptist introduced him as “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
In Matthew 6:35, Jesus referred to himself as “the bread of life.”
In the spirit of the Christmas season (and because it’s one of my favorites) we’re going to look at the name “Immanuel,” meaning, “God with us.”
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Matthew 1:22-23
Jesus, being fully divine, all-powerful, and one with God, came to dwell among us in human flesh. He appeared that fateful day not as a king or a warrior, but as a soft, wailing baby. Was he at least born to wealthy parents with the means and social status to eventually put him in a place of power? No. In fact, his parents would have been ostracized for their unwed pregnancy. His earthly father, Joseph, was merely a carpenter.
Imagine Jesus, a small child, falling and scraping his knees. A teenager, growing out of gangly childhood limbs and beginning to sprout peach fuzz. Then, a young man worshipping at the synagogue and helping with the family business.
Yet all the while fully divine and fully human, both Son of God and Son of Man. God himself living among us. He is Immanuel, God with us. God walking, talking, and breathing the same air as us. Facing the same trials and temptations, learning the same skills, and experiencing the same emotions. Immanuel.
What an amazing thing. Like I said, it’s one of my favorites. As we enter the final days before December 25th, I pray that you will take a moment to pause amidst all the hustle and reflect on the fact that God loves you so much that he sent his only Son to take on flesh and dwell among us (John 1:14).
Peace and joy to you, and Merry Christmas.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8