Immanuel, God With Us by Ann Spangler

from Immanuel: A Daily Guide to Reclaiming Christmas

The Name
The name Immanuel appears twice in the Hebrew Scriptures and once in the New Testament. In Greek, it is rendered Emmanouel. One of the most comforting of all the names and titles of Jesus, it is literally translated with us is God or, as Matthew’s Gospel puts it, God with us. When our sins made it impossible for us to come to Him, God took the outrageous step of coming to us, of making Himself susceptible to sorrow, familiar with temptation, and vulnerable to sin’s disruptive power, in order to cancel its claim.


In Jesus we see how extreme God’s love is.

Remember this the next time you feel discouraged, abandoned, or too timid to undertake some new endeavor.  For Jesus is still Immanuel — He is still God with us.

Key Scriptures
Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of human beings? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:13–14

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). — Matthew 1:22–23

Reflecting on the Name 
How have you experienced Immanuel — God being with you, in your life thus far? Matthew begins and ends his Gospel (see Matthew 28:20) with the promises that God is with us. How would your life be different if you began and ended each day with the firm belief that God is with you? What does this title of Jesus reveal about His nature?

Prayer
Immanuel, I praise You for Your faithful love — drawing near when I was far from You. Instead of casting me away from Your presence, You came to call me home. Instead of punishing me for my sins, You came to free me from them. Immanuel, my God, You are here with me today. Live in me and glorify Your Name, I pray.

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To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.