EMMANUEL

As we noticed yesterday, God’s Son has an eternal name, ‘The Word’. His title name is ‘Christ’. His earthly name is ‘Jesus’, and His name of honour by resurrection is ‘Lord’. Our text today reveals His spiritual name, Emmanuel. This name reveals not what He will do, ‘save his people from their sins’, Matt. 1. 21, but who He is - God.

In Old Testament history, God sent angels, heavenly messengers, and prophets, holy men, to represent Him. But, in Emmanuel, He came Himself. Isaiah prophesied what they would call the virgin-born son, 7. 14. And indeed the prophecy came true. Not only did men like Peter, a Jew, confess Jesus as ‘the Son of the living God’, Matt. 16. 16, but the Gentile Roman centurion said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God’, Matt. 27. 54.

God with us, what a spectacular event! But how was He with us? As a force or spirit or angel? No! Our text tells us it was as a man - one of us, but without sin. Many long for God to come among us, but He has - as one of us. The Word became flesh in the person of the Lord Jesus. He is not a legend or a feeling, but tangible, personal and identifiable. His disciple, John, could record of Him, ‘That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life’, 1 John 1.1.

The Scriptures record an amazing affinity between God and man. In the beginning, God made man; creation. Then, God spoke to man; communication. Then, in Israel, He dwelt among man in the cloud of glory; identification. After this, God became man - Immanuel, God with us; incarnation. Then, in the Person of His Son, He died for man; salvation. Now, through the person of the Holy Spirit, He lives in saved man; sanctification. Someday, He, in the Person of Christ, will be married to man; unification. And, finally, we are told, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them’, not just a cloud but Him personally - forever in the eternal city of glory; glorification, Rev. 21.3.