A Pastor’s Perspective

“Immanuel—God With Us” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen (mjhill@ida.net)

Listen to CALVARY RADIO 90.3 FM

My son’s birth reminded me that God was with us.  As I held this newborn babe, I believe that I cried more than he did.  My tears flowed out of joy and inspiration.  As my son inhaled his first breaths, I remember reading, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:13-14).  I felt like I had received a great gift from God, and I thanked Him for it.

One evening, as I quietly watched my son sleeping in his crib, a sense of responsibility and fear overwhelmed me.  I cried out to God, “Where am I going to get the money to provide for him and my wife?  Teach me to be the best parent he can possibly have!”  God’s love dispelled my fears.  I learned that the love and concern that overflowed my heart for my son was nothing compared to the love God had for me.  Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).  Through the years, God has shown that He is with us in very tangible ways.

Jesus’ birth means that God is with us in an even more profound and literal way.  About 700 years before that miraculous event, Isaiah prophesied, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).  We know that this prophecy was literally fulfilled through the virgin Mary but when was Jesus’ name ever “Immanuel”?  We don’t ever see the disciples approach Jesus and say, “Immanuel, will You teach us how to pray?”  Jesus’ name was not Immanuel, however, Jesus fulfilled the meaning of Immanuel, “God with us.”  Jesus was God in the flesh—fully God and fully human (John 1:1, 14).  The Creator of the universe clothed Himself with humanity and dwelt among us.  Just as the song “Mary, Did You Know?” declares that “when you [Mary] kiss your little baby you’ve kissed the face of God.”

Forgiveness of sins and a right relationship with God is not found in a religion.  Salvation cannot be bought with money or by our good works.  Everlasting life is wrapped up in the gift of the Son of God (1John 5:11-12).  Have you opened your heart to Him?  Jesus is no longer a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths.  He grew up, lived a perfect and sinless life, and died a criminal’s death on the cross for your sins and mine.  He rose again on the third day and is Immanuel to whoever opens their heart to Him by faith (Romans 10:9, 10; Revelation 3:20).  The final verses of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” form an appropriate request to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Immanuel:    “…Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today!  We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell. O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel!”