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
Immanuel–in this name, we find the story of Christmas, for it means God with us. The story in which the Son of God condescended down to the earth and became a man who had no beauty that we should desire Him. He was majestic, yet He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him (Isaiah 53:2). While He was deemed undesirable for His outward appearance, He desired to beautify the ugly hearts of those who rejected Him. Indeed, Christ longed to purify hearts that were marred by sin. Thus, it is clear that our Lord did not come to be praised or to entice people for sinful gain, for if this were the case, He would have given himself the most appealing image. Rather, He came to serve, and in doing so, He subjected himself to sufferings so horrific that the mind cannot begin to comprehend such things. This picture of love and humility should come to mind when we think of His name–God with us. And though He no longer dwells with humanity in the flesh, He lives in the hearts of His people. His presence does not leave His children, for those who are His cannot be separated from His love. Even the sins of His own cannot cast Him out, for He’d have to deny His name if He were to flee from His children for any reason.
So, if even our wickedness cannot cause the God of righteousness to withdraw from us, we must conclude that there is great depth to His name, Immanuel, that deserves mind-toiling attention. While I will shortly explain the implications of this name, it is the job of the Christian to mediate on Immanuel. And if you, Christian, find your heart unable to believe the Lord is so near to you, remember that such a thought is a denial of who He is.
Indeed, we should know our Lord transcends all, but we should not forget that He condescends to us. In our troubles, He is with us, and in our rejoicing, He is with us. He does not leave us for a second, for if He did, we could not bear it. So if we can bear anything, we know it is not because we are mighty but because He is with us.
Further, His name means that He knows all and walks beside His children in all things. He is not a father who leaves for hours a day to work and then returns home at dinner. That is how earthy fathers work for their children, but the Lord works on behalf of His own by being with them all day and night. He hears the prayers of His people, and more than this, He intercedes for His own. Surely, this is consistent with the story of Christmas, for Christ came to intercede on behalf of sinful humans.
Therefore, If ever we feel alone, the most glorious name we can call to mind is not the name of a friend or spouse; it is the name Immanuel. This name tells us we should never fear or be anxious. This name prohibits us from repeating prayers simply because we think He did not hear us the first time. This name forbids us from crouching in a corner and saying we have nothing. And this name encourages us to remember that the Lord of all descended to earth so that sinners may become saints who will one day ascend to glory with Him. Let us dwell on these truths as we celebrate the coming of our Lord.
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