It Is Christmas: The Journey of the NativityНамуна

Day 10: The Fulfilled Promise – God With Us, Emmanuel
Reading: Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:14

Since Eden, God had promised redemption. When humanity fell, He did not abandon us. From that moment, every covenant—with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David—pointed to the time when God Himself would address our deepest problem: sin. This promise, reaffirmed by the prophets throughout the centuries, found its fulfillment at Christmas.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14). These words mark the climax of God’s redemptive plan. The Creator did not send a representative, an angel, or merely a prophet. He came Himself. C.S. Lewis describes this divine descent powerfully: “The Son of God became man so that men could become sons of God.”

The name given to Jesus—Emmanuel, “God with us”—is one of the most profound truths of the Gospel. The God of the universe entered our broken world. He did not remain distant, observing from afar. He felt hunger, fatigue, rejection, and pain. He experienced our limitations and chose to give His life for us. As Tim Keller states: “At Christmas, God became vulnerable so that we could be saved.”

This reality changes everything. Emmanuel means we are never alone. Whether in moments of joy or sorrow, on the mountaintops or in the valleys, He is present. God’s promise was not merely a temporary solution; it was the offer of an eternal relationship.

Christmas is far more than a historical event or an annual celebration. It is a declaration of God’s love, a demonstration that He always fulfills His promises. John Stott said: “The incarnation is the greatest proof that God is with us, not just in theory, but in practice.”

Today, we are called to respond to this truth with gratitude and worship. Christmas does not end on December 25. It marks the beginning of a life transformed by the constant presence of Jesus.

Prayer:
“Lord, thank You for fulfilling Your promise and being Emmanuel, God with us. May my life be a response of worship and gratitude to You. Help me to live with this truth in my heart, knowing that I am never alone. Amen.”