Emmanuel
This is Christmas at New Life
Todd Blansit
December 19, 2021
Emmanuel
Matthew 1:18-24, NIV
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
This points to grace, which comes not through human effort but rather through relying on God to do what we humans cannot.
This was the reason Christ came. God gave us this child, named Emmanuel, which literally means, “with us is God,” or “God with us.”
He gives us strength in place of weakness, courage in place of fear, and vibrant life in all those dark places that once felt dead.
Because of Jesus, Emmanuel, we never have to be alone. We never have to wonder how to please God or worry if our efforts aren’t enough. We can simply rest knowing He is with us, in us, loves us, and will never leave us.
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Emmanuel shows us that we have a God that understands. He’s walked in our shoes, felt what we’ve felt, and understands our pain.
John 15:15-17
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
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