Emmanuel

“The word became flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory)…” [John 1:14a]

ii. To be sin’s CONQUEROR: He came to satisfy the God’s Justice and break sin’s power: HE LIBERATED US!

“The word became flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of GRACE and TRUTH. [John 1:14, emphasis added]

What seeming contradiction in the God-man: Grace AND Truth. How can the Creator of the Universe, the Governor of Nature and all things that exist (“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Col. 1:17), so thoroughly holy and righteous be full of GRACE to sinful man!!!!!

BECAUSE: “…the Word was made flesh…” He became one of us to take upon Himself the full measure of our sin and receive the just punishment for crimes He did not commit, thereby releasing us from sin’s hold, and acquitting us before the Great Judge!!!

iii. To be our COMFORTER: The word “paraclaytos” (gr) spoken of in John 14:16 of the Holy Spirit is also used to describe Christ in I John 2:1, where the same word is rendered “advocate”. As Jesus was with His disciples, He now says of the Holy Ghost, God shall send you another comforter, meaning one “just like me”.

Quote: The Holy Spirit is thus called, because he transacts the cause of God and Christ with us, explains to us the nature and importance of the great atonement, shows the necessity of it, counsels us to receive it, instructs us how to lay hold on it, vindicates our claim to it, and makes intercessions in us with unutterable groanings. As Christ acted with his disciples while he sojourned with them, so the Holy Ghost acts with those who believe in his name. (Adam Clark, Clark Commentaries)

1. He leads us into all truth

2. He defends our cause with the Court of Heaven

3. And He promises us, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” and again in the Great Commission, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

iv. To be our COMMANDER: He heralds the call of reconciliation, first sending Himself, now enlisting us to fulfill the Misseo Dei (Latin), the “Mission of God” to redeem Mankind. We must respond to the Lord of the Harvest to be laborers together with Him. As our Commander, He calls us to the Harvest Fields, to go beyond ourselves, as He moved beyond His Heavenly Realm to be the agent of salvation for us.

Conclusion: Like Ahaz’ day, we live in a troubled time, a world full of contradiction and confusion, a culture filled with animosity toward the only true God and His Son. Yet, the Emmanuel calls to us, His voice echoing through the troubled Sea of Life, saying, “Be not afraid, it is I,” or better still, how it reads in the Greek, “Take Courage, I AM”! He is God With Us!

As fully God, He deserves our Worship this morning.

But As fully Man, He resurrects Hope from the depths of our souls.

When Celsus the first great skeptic once asked, “What has Jesus given to the world that no one else has given?” The replied resounded, “HIMSELF!” (adapted from illustration on SermonCentral.com contributed by Troy Borst, Robert C. Shannon in James W. Cox, The Minister’s Manual, 1995, p.347)