Matthew 1:23 says, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God with us.”

When Jesus was born, the Jews were under Roman rule and were not a free people. They were coming off a 400-year period of silence from God. I think they could have been feeling fear, disappointment, sadness, heartache, and a longing for Messiah. Then an angel tells Mary she will give birth to Immanuel, the long-awaited Savior.

Immanuel means, God with us, literally. Jesus would take on human flesh and live his life here on this earth. He would be God and perfect man. He was our rescue from sin and death and separation from God for eternity, because He was our perfect sacrifice. He would live on this earth without ever sinning, die on this earth on the cross as the payment for our sins, and then He would gloriously rise from the dead to conquer sin and death and provide our way to spend eternity with God! This is the reason Jesus was born.

The arrival of God in the form of a helpless baby, brought to the world a message of hope, love, joy and peace.  So, while everything seems so uncertain around us and we long to see Jesus face to face; those of us that our His children can put our hope in Immanuel, God with us. He hasn’t left us! He is walking along beside us each step of the way. His love and hope outlast and overcome death and fear! His love is always present and sustaining.

Come join us this Christmas season starting Sunday, November 24, 2024 as we anticipate the arrival of Immanuel, God with us.