IDENTIFYING WITH IMMANUEL BRINGS DELIVERANCE

“And she will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and they shall call His name ‘Immanuel’, which is translated, ‘God with us’”—Matthew 1:21, 23

 

Throughout ancient human history, heaven was God’s dwelling place, and except for a few personal encounters (as with Abraham, Hagar, and Jacob), He seemed far away to most people. Then He came to be in the Israelites’ midst, first in a pillar of cloud and fire, then in the tabernacle and temple.  But now, the angel announced that He was about to do something totally new.  His presence would be with people in the form of God’s Son, a man who would literally live among them.

 

Even before Jesus was born on earth, He was given two names, which both indicated His identity and ministry.   Immanuel tells us who He is—“God with us.”  Christ took on human flesh while retaining undiminished deity and became the perfect God-Man.  He lived on earth, walked among men, and suffered the weaknesses of humanity.  Yet He also displayed the power of Almighty God as He healed the sick, cast out demons, calmed the sea, and raised the dead.

 

Jesus means “The Lord is salvation,” which describes what He came to do—to save us from the bondage of sin through His death on our behalf.  This explains why He had to become Immanuel.  Since the Father is immortal and cannot die, His Son had to take on a human body in order to offer Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

 

But what do these two names of Christ mean for you today?  Through the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, Jesus still lives with you and has the power to deliver you from the grip of any bondage.  No sinful habit, painful past or present struggle is too difficult for the God-Man to overcome, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, not height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8: 38-39). 

 

Immanuel longs to be with His people.  Let’s reach out by faith today and talk to Him, let Him know what is on your heart.  If you need His help let Him know.  He wants to help you and be with you.

 

Prayer—Father thank You that You have sent Jesus to save me from the bondage of sin through His death on the cross for me, and that Immanuel is always with me.  You have said that You would never leave me nor forsake me, thank You that Your are with me always even until the end, and that I can trust You for everything that I have need of because You sent Your Son, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.