God the Son has received many exceptional names, such as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, King of kings, Saviour, the Anointed One, Shepherd, and Lamb of God. The one to which we now give attention is "Immanuel," which means, "God with us."

Immanuel particularly points to the incarnation, namely, that God became man. This name also calls attention to the real spirit of the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Much of the talk we may hear about the spirit of Christmas misses the point. Too often it is limited to feelings of nostalgia, family togetherness, and kindness to the poor, the lonely, and the hurting. While of course all these are important, our focus needs to be on what God has done and is doing in Christ Jesus. In him God is with us. What an awesome truth!

God with US⤒🔗

That Jesus was conceived in Mary without a human father was an amazing miracle. So is the reality that one person can be both God and man. It is also an awesome fulfillment of the LORD'S covenant that God should be with us (Exodus 34:10). How stupendous, that God who ought to consume stiff-necked humans (Exodus 33:3, 5) is with us!

From the perspective of the evil character we inherited from Adam and Eve, we are disgusting creatures. Think of it: man was created to be a perfect image of the perfect God, who enveloped us in love and blessed us beyond anything we could imagine. Yet we dared to think that the Almighty could be a liar. What we did was truly shocking: "The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time" (Genesis 6:5). Even so, in Christ, holy God is with us!

God WITH Us←⤒🔗

Jesus Christ did not just work his miracles and salvation from heaven, nor did he take on only the appearance of a man, something different than true humanity. Jesus could not have been more with us, for he was born as a true man, suffering through the pains of a human birth, experiencing all the stresses, distresses, and weaknesses that are ours. He did not sin, but he did assume the human nature impacted by the curse of sin. "By sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, (God) condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3, ESV).

"He had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:17). With us in our suffering, with us in our sin, Christ delivers us from suffering and sin by appeasing the wrath of the Judge of all the earth, the only anger that truly matters.

GOD with Us←⤒🔗

In Eden God walked with man. His children were in his presence and delighted in him. Nothing is more precious to a man than to be in the Lord's presence. Sadly, Adam was later shut out of the Garden. God's holiness stood in sharp contrast with man's sin, and his rejection of sinners was expressed by expelling man from his presence.

After Israel's terrible sin with the golden calf, the Lord told Moses to lead the people into the land flowing with milk and honey. An angel would go with them and would drive out the people living in Canaan. However, God himself would not go up with this stiff-necked people, lest his holy zeal destroy them. The presence of an angel and the promise of blessings were no consolation to Israel. Nothing could be more tragic than God's refusal to go with his people. God and only God himself with us makes us his distinct people, his covenant people, his forgiven people. As a type of Christ, Moses pleaded with the Lord that he would forgive them and go with them. Read this gripping story In Exodus 33:1 to 34:10. In 34:6-7 the Lord reveals his name to Moses,

The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.

That name of grace and forgiveness comes to its greatest expression in Jesus Christ – God with us, who in his mercy inhabits you and me by his Spirit. What an awesome thought!