Immanuel
Notes
Transcript
As you guys know we have been studying through the theme “Name of Jesus” with the express desire to grow closer to our Lord and Savior through the names and or titles given Jesus. Today we are going to focus our attention on the name prophesied about in Isaiah 7:4 and quoted in Matthew 1:23, the name Immanuel. In Matthew 1 starting in verse 18 we read of the conception of Jesus, within the virgin Mary, by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, found out of the pregnancy and was going to divorce Mary whom he was engaged to. Keep in mind back then once you were engaged you were considered legally bound, even though not actually married as of yet, thus the need for divorce instead of just breaking off the engagement. God sends an angel or messenger to Joseph to explain that Mary is with child from God. Let’s start reading in Matthew 1:20.
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
From this we can easily see that the name Immanuel means “God with us.” Why is it significant for Jesus to have the name “God with us?” First, because it demonstrates that Jesus was not just man but God, as we have looked at in several of his other names. Secondly, it reminds us that all those prophecies about Jesus came true. Thirdly, and lastly, it shows the utter love God has for his creation, mankind. The sacrifice made by God the Son to become human is more than we humans will ever understand. Remember the words of Paul in Philippians 2:5-8.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
You see Jesus, the Word, gave up heaven, became a servant, learned obedience, was tempted, suffered, died, and was resurrected here on earth to be, not only our Lord & Savior, but our “example” of how to live for God in this old sinful world.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
