CHRISTMAS – JESUS OUR IMMANUEL

We all name our children at their birth. This is the most natural thing among the human beings. A name that is given to a new-born child, is intended by the parents, to be a unique identification, exclusive only to that child. The name given, also reflects the dreams, the aspirations and prayers wished for that child, by the parents. The Messiah who was born in a manger, in Bethlehem, was given a name. Let us explore it this morning.
– “20…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”…23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” – Matthew 1:20-21,23

The above verses have two names mentioned for the Christ Child – JESUS and IMMANUEL.
– JESUS, means YAHWEH saves, or the Salvation of Yahweh. 
– IMMANUEL means, God is with us.
– JESUS our IMMANUEL is a beautiful combination of two words. They demonstrate to us, the heart, nature and the character of God. 
– It also defines the very purpose of God becoming a human being. 
– God who is with us, became man, just like you and me, to seek and save us, the lost sinners on the certain path to eternal destruction.

The name JESUS DESCRIBES the nature of the coming Messiah – He is coming as a Saviour. It speaks of care, concern and compassion towards “the people living in darkness” – which is the whole world.
– “36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” – Matthew 9:36

The name JESUS DEFINES for us, the purpose of the Messiah. He is come so that we are reached out and rescued from our eternal death and destruction, which is a foregone conclusion.
– “10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10

The name given to the Christ Child is the only name which has the power to save, like NO OTHER NAME! HalleluYah!!!
– “12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

The second name, IMMANUEL, that is mentioned in Matthew 1:23, is a direct quotation from the prophesy as found in Isaiah 7:14. It speaks about God’s nature and character – HE IS WITH US!!! God who truly cares for us, is always with us. How wonderful and comforting it is! Is it not dear brothers and sisters? *Oh what love is this, that cares for the fallen and the lost enemies of God, that it should come seeking the enemies, and choose to die for us, the worthless enemies of God?* Amazing Love!

Have we experienced this love? Do we realise how precious and priceless is this love? The love they is shed abroad in our hearts by JESUS our IMMANUEL – Romans 5:5. May we always seek to praise, thank and glorify JESUS our IMMANUEL, in and through our lives. Even so, the LORD help us.