Emmanuel, God with Us

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

When Isaiah prophesied of the virgin birth of Jesus telling king Ahaz that the name of the offspring of the virgin would be, “Immanuel,” he never told us the meaning of the name. When the angel spoke to Joseph, to whom Mary was espoused, Matthew picks up on the story and tells us the name Emmanuel means “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

John the Baptist is quoted in the Gospel of John: “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (John 1:18)  A child was busy with her water colors.  “What are you painting?” her mother asked.  “I’m painting a picture of God,” she replied.  “But sugar, no one knows what God looks like.”  Without looking up, the little girl said, “They will when I get through.”  When Emmanuel finished His work on this earth, people truly knew what God looked like.

It has been correctly stated, “If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.” He is Emmanuel, God with us. He is worthy of your trust, your honor, your praise and worship.