Emmanuel - Yesterday, Today and Forever

My husband and I were talking about the Christmas season and it's fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This is not an unusual thing for us to do. We enjoy sharing our faith journey on many levels, from academics to spirit filled worship.

The passage in Isaiah where the child, Emmanuel, is named has affected me deeply. Most of us are familiar with the translation Emmanuel means "God with us." Have you considered what this meant to Ahaz and the people of Judah when Isaiah first mentioned the Redeemer's name?

First remember that the people of Jehovah God were in need of a protector, a "big guy" to on their side. In the numerous battles that occur in the pages of the Old Testament, one link ties them together - God was with his people even when their faith wavered. Even in the times that God allowed His people to be oppressed, His ultimate plan for their redemption was on His mind. Emmanuel, God with us, is a display of God's eternal faithfulness to redeem, even when things look bad.

Of course, we have the added blessing of knowing that Jesus Christ is the culmination of the Emmanuel prophecy. "God with us" in human form as a babe in Bethlehem. The gospel of Matthew makes it clear that Jesus is Emmanuel. He will be the Prince of Peace - a peace that the people of God had been waiting for.

But Jesus did not stop there. He took the meaning of God with us to a whole new level. Not only did He live a perfect life and died to set us free from the power of sin, He gave us another gift. For believers, the Spirit of this Redeemer lives in us.

Emmanuel. God with us. Then and now. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

God be with you this week as many of you prepare to celebrate the birth of the Redeemer!