Called to be Emmanuel

December 13, 2020 Background Scripture: Matthew 1:18 – 25 Lesson Passage: Matthew 1:18 – 25 A person’s name in the original language was not just a label. The word had a meaning that was being ascribed to the person. If the word meant bright, it was assumed, or hoped, that the person would be intellectually astute. If the word meant red, it is possible that the person had a reddish complexion or hair. This is one of the things that made prophecy obscure; some words were descriptive, and some words were formal names. It was not easy to discern what was what based on the context or the time in which it was spoken or written. Hence, this was one of the difficulties with a passage from Isaiah’s prophecy, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Adding to the difficulty of understanding prophecy is that it was often fulfilled in the immediate future of the original recipients and then again later for all recipients. The word Immanuel literally means “God with us”. Were the original recipients expected to look for a child that was given the name Immanuel? Was any group that received this prophecy expected to look for a child so named? According to the gospel of Matthew, no one should have expected to find a child by that name as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. According to Matthew, the literal meaning of the word, Immanuel, described the fulfillment of the prophecy. Immanuel means “God with us”. The prophecy was totally fulfilled when God lived among Israel in bodily form. To someone who is not of the Christian faith, this would sound more like the stuff mythology is made of. Why would God, with all the attributes ascribed to Him by Hebrew literature, lower Himself and live among morally and spiritually corrupt people? Could God do that and still be considered God? Doesn’t the thought that a person should strive to elevate their own character to a moral and spiritual level acceptable to God make more sense? It would make more sense if people could change their moral and spiritual character to align with God’s demand for holiness. However, when people lack that ability, then there is no bridge between mankind and God. Mankind’s moral and spiritual bankruptcy leaves us in an eternally hopeless situation. That’s why the meaning of the name, Immanuel, is of such importance to us. The phrase “God with us” helps us to see Jesus for who he is. Only then can we embrace his mission and accomplishment for mankind. Jesus didn’t just come to be with us, he came to save us from our sin. It was not enough for God to be with us. God had to become what we were, so that we could become what He is. Mankind had no bridge between God and us. Therefore, God had to become the bridge that could reconcile mankind to Himself. Sin had caused the chasm of separation between God and mankind. God’s judgment of sin required the death of the sinner. Jesus had to come into the world as a part of mankind. He had to be brought into the world without sin. Jesus had to live a sinless life as a part of mankind. Then, Jesus had to accept being a sacrificial offering for sin to fulfill the righteousness of God. Having accomplished all of this, God raised him from death and elevated him above every living creature. Aside from Jesus, every human being born into the world was conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity. We were born into a situation leading to eternal damnation. For all who put their hope in him, Jesus is the offering for sin that grants eternal life. There is no wonder that during the season when we celebrate Jesus’ birth into the world, we see and sing about Emmanuel. Indeed, we were delivered because God was with us. Robert C. Hudson November 21, 2020