His Name Shall Be Calledનમૂનો

IMMANUEL

The greatest words ever spoken to a people of dwindling hope are, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”

Though it would be nearly 700 years until that promise would become a reality, the very thought that hope was coming to deliver them would be enough to carry the Israelites through the most difficult and darkest period of their history.

Today, these are still the most important words upon which we can place our hope. This hope has come in the flesh and will come again to vanquish hopelessness once and for all, reconciling us to Himself completely, and restoring all of creation to the shalom (peace, wholeness, justice, goodness) intended since the beginning of time.

When Jesus, hope incarnate, came to earth clothed in humanity, He came to show us who God is, how His kingdom would operate, and why it would be far superior to any other kingdom that has been or ever will be. The reason is that Jesus would become a Savior well acquainted with our deepest sorrows and our greatest burdens. He would heal our wounds, and include us in His diverse family comprised of every nation, tongue, and tribe, by ransoming us from the power of sin and death.

But most of all, He would come as Immanuel, God with us. He would not be some far-off, unrelatable, and angry deity to please. Instead, He would personally enter our story changing our hearts from the inside out, as an intimate father, friend, brother, deliverer, lover, and king. He would do this so that we could become an extension of His hope to the world around us. He would also revolutionize human history by making salvation available to all who trust in Him.

As a result, we have been granted access to the Wonderful Counselor and His divine wisdom, to the Mighty God and His divine power, to the Everlasting Father and His divine protection and love, and the Prince of Peace and His divine peace.

This is what distinguishes the Christian faith from other world religions: That we are invited to live a life together with a living God. The suffering, shame, loneliness, anxiety, loss, brokenness, strife, and restlessness in this life are not ours to carry. He promised to unburden us, by shouldering the weight of the world and our lives upon Himself. In return, we get to live in free, unencumbered friendship with Him who walks side by side with us through all of life’s ups and downs.

What good is a promise, if someone is unable to uphold that promise? With God, we can know that what the apostle Paul said is true, that “all the promises of God find their Yes in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20). God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.

In fact, over 324 prophecies concerning Jesus were fulfilled when He came to earth, and He brought with him the peace, order, justice, and righteousness of heaven.

If you feel as though He is not near, take comfort, because God delights in drawing close to you, as you draw close to Him.

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, that you are Immanuel, God with me, in everything. I trust that you will never leave me alone, and will be with me wherever I go and in whatever I face. Amen.