The Birth That Changed Everything: Understanding Emmanuel – God With Us
The birth of Jesus Christ stands as the most significant event in human history. Unlike any other birth, this moment didn’t just impact a family or even a generation – it divided time itself and changed the trajectory of all humanity. When we examine Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, we discover profound truths about God’s presence, purpose, and plan for our lives.
What Makes Jesus’ Birth Different from All Others?
Throughout history, God has marked spectacular events with unusual births. We see this with Sarah, Rebecca, Hannah, and Elizabeth – women who bore children through miraculous circumstances. But the birth of Jesus surpasses all of these infinitely. This wasn’t just another miraculous birth; this was God himself taking on human flesh.
Matthew makes it clear from the beginning: this story isn’t primarily about Joseph, though he plays an important role. The story is about Jesus – the birth that would fulfill centuries of prophecy and provide salvation for all mankind.
Who Is This Child Born in Bethlehem?
The Divinity of Jesus
The child born to Mary is “God with us” – not just another man or prophet, but the divine taking on humanity. When Jesus asked the Pharisees, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” Matthew provides the answer: He is the Son of God.
God didn’t send a proxy or substitute when humanity’s greatest need arose. He came himself. The incarnation of Jesus Christ stands as one of the most central truths of our faith. Without the virgin birth, our faith crumbles and our message disintegrates.
The Proximity of God
Jesus is not “God from a distance” but “God with us” – up close, among us, right beside us. There’s a significant difference between following GPS directions and having a physical guide. The difference is presence. A physical guide goes where you go and directs you personally. This is what we have in Jesus – God’s personal presence with us.
How Does God’s Presence Impact Our Daily Struggles?
Scripture contains 140 occasions that speak of God’s presence among us, with 50 of those being direct promises from God saying “I am with you.” Consider these powerful assurances:
- “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)
- “I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4)
- “God is a very present help in a time of trouble” (Psalm 46:1)
- “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10)
- “I am with you always, even to the end of the earth” (Matthew 28:20)
Whatever you’re facing today – financial concerns, family conflicts, loneliness, anxiety, grief, workplace stress, life transitions, or spiritual attacks – God is with you. This isn’t wishful thinking; it’s the authority of God’s Word.
What Was Joseph’s Role in God’s Plan?
Joseph’s Dilemma
When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, he faced an impossible situation. As a righteous man, he planned to divorce her quietly to preserve her dignity. The concept of virgin birth was mathematically impossible – it had never happened before in history.
Joseph was contemplating, thinking, considering his options. We don’t know how long he wrestled with this knowledge before the angel appeared, but however long it was, it must have felt like an eternity.
God’s Message to Joseph
When the angel appeared to Joseph, God provided four crucial pieces of information:
How to Feel: “Don’t be afraid.” God wasn’t telling Joseph not to fear the angel’s presence, but rather not to fear taking Mary as his wife. When God is doing something in our lives, we don’t need to be afraid of His plans.
What to Believe: The child conceived in Mary is of the Holy Spirit. This birth fulfills the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14 about a virgin conceiving and bearing a son called Emmanuel.
What to Do: Joseph was instructed to name the child Jesus and take Mary as his wife. His role was significant but secondary – he would be the earthly father of the Messiah.
What It Means: This child will save His people from their sins. Jesus came not to save people from political oppression, but from their deepest problem – sin.
How Does Jesus Fulfill Ancient Prophecies?
The angel’s message to Joseph referenced Isaiah’s prophecy given 750 years earlier. When King Ahaz faced political pressure, Isaiah told him not to fear and offered a sign: “A virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel.”
While there was an initial fulfillment in Isaiah’s time, Matthew reveals that Jesus was God’s ultimate answer to this prophecy. Joseph was being included in the narrative that God had been writing throughout history.
What Do the Names of Jesus Reveal About His Mission?
Matthew presents multiple names and titles for this child, each revealing something crucial about His identity and mission:
- Jesus – meaning “God will save” or “save us now”
- Christ/Messiah – the promised one, the anointed deliverer
- Son of David – connecting Him to the messianic lineage
- Emmanuel – “God with us,” emphasizing His divine nature and intimate presence
These names aren’t just labels; they describe the very function Jesus would fulfill as Savior, Messiah, and God incarnate.
Why Did Jesus Come?
Jesus came to address mankind’s greatest problem – sin. He didn’t come merely to provide another religious option or to satisfy our preferences about what a Messiah should be. He came as the one true Savior, the only way to God, the bridge between sinful humanity and a holy God.
The birth of Jesus opens the door to what His resurrection completes. We don’t have salvation simply because Jesus was born, but because He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, and rose victorious from the grave. Salvation comes through placing our trust in Him and receiving the forgiveness that only comes through His name.
Life Application
This week, embrace the reality that God is truly with you. In whatever circumstances you’re facing, remember that Emmanuel – God with us – is not a distant deity but an intimate presence walking alongside you. Don’t be afraid of what God might be doing in your life, because when God is working, His plans are always for your good and His glory.
Take time to call on the name of Jesus in prayer, recognizing that it’s through His name alone that we have access to the Father. Trust in His plan, even when circumstances don’t make sense, knowing that God’s timing is always perfect.
Questions for Reflection:
- In what areas of your life do you need to remember that God is with you rather than distant from you?
- How does knowing that Jesus came specifically to save you from sin change your perspective on His birth?
- What fears do you need to surrender to God, trusting that He is working even when you can’t see the full picture?
- How can you better call on the name of Jesus throughout your daily life, acknowledging His presence and power?
