THEY SHALL CALL HIM EMMANUEL
Matthew 1:23
Before the advent of the Christmas carol, celebrations of Christmas had become so depraved and rowdy that the observance of the joyous season was once forbidden by the English Parliament. The meaning of Christmas had become lost in a maelstrom of reveling, drunkenness, rioting, and depravity. Decent people found it necessary to stay indoors for safety. The situation became so shameful that in 1644 Parliament passed strict laws making it illegal to commemorate the season in any way whatsoever! How empty and devoid of meaning is a Christless Christmas
What does Christmas mean to you? To some, it means getting gifts, to some, it means hard work, to some, it means stressful shopping, to some, a visit home, to some, a sad memory of the lost of a love one, to some, party time, and to others, Christmas means nothing. It is just another day in their life.
But to a real Christian, Christmas means everything. It means God loves them with all His heart and He has given the best gift He could give, His Son, Jesus Christ.
In this passage, our Lord is called Emmanuel. This is the only time this name is mentioned in the New Testament. Someone has said, Jesus is His earthly name, and Emmanuel is His Heavenly name.
I-NOTICE THE MIRACLE THAT THIS NAME IMPLIES:
In a sense, the birth of every baby is a miracle. One Doctor said on TV that he had delivered over 16,000 babies. He said, he stands in the presence of a miracle every time he delivers a baby.
It is a true statement, but the birth of Jesus is a greater birth, for it was a virgin birth.
A-The Prophecy Of This Miracle Birth:
God doesn’t make decisions on the spur of the moment but He has everything planned out. Even before He created this world, He knew the events that would take place not only in this world but also in the world to come, Heaven.
Josh McDowell lists 61 major prophecies that were fulfilled in the birth, life, and death of Jesus.
In Isaiah 7:14, He is given the name of God (Immanuel or God with us) "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
The Bible is so plain on the matter of the virgin birth that it must either be accepted or rejected. God supernaturally created a child in the womb of Mary without the aid of human father. Either it happened as written, or it did not
This birth was to be a miraculous sign to the house of David and to the world. How could a natural birth of a baby be a sign? It couldn’t be, thus it was a special birth, a virgin birth.
Some have problems with this miracle birth, but I say if God could make a man(Adam) out clay and a woman(Eve) from his rib, He has the power to make a virgin birth possible.
B-The Purity Of This Miracle Birth:
The Bible tells us that Jesus was a pure man, a sinless man. In order for this to happen, His birth had to be different.
If one would examine the prayer life of Jesus, they would never find Jesus asking for forgiveness of sin.
Jesus had to be sinless for if He was, how could He save mankind from their sins? But praise God, Jesus qualified , for He knew no sin.
II-NOTICE THE MYSTERY THAT THIS NAME IMPLIES:
When Jesus was born, God was born. When we look into that cradle, we see more than a Babe in a manger, but we see God. The one who is Creator. This is a mystery.
I Timothy 3:16-And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
A-He Is God Because Of His Attributes:
Some say, He was not God, but just a good teacher, a good example, but the Bible says differently. He had the very character of God because is God, more than a teacher, but the very God of Heaven.
Notice the following verses:
Psalms 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
1 Corinthians 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Matthew 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Psalms 103:1-2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
It is a mystery, I don’t understand all that its involves, but I believe it. Only 12 men understood the theory of the Atomic Bomb, but it was truth.
B-He Is God Because Of His Admission:
John 10:31 I and my Father are one. Jesus is saying, He and the Father are the same person.
If I stood and said, I was the president of the United States, you would say, get the butterfly net for him, for he is crazy. The reason being, I couldn’t back up that claim. But Jesus could because of His word and His character.
C-He Is God Because Of His Adoration:
He says in Luke 4:8(And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.) nobody is to be worshiped but God yet in Matthew 28:9(And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.) He allows them to worship Him. Why? He is God.
III-NOTICE THE MEANING THAT THIS NAME IMPLIES:
This means to us that he is not absent but He is with us.
John 1:14 And the Word was made 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.
A-It Means He Is For Us:
Isaiah 53:12 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12: Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
He came into this world to die upon a cross to take care of our sin problem.
What is the greatest work of Jesus? It isn’t guiding the sun and the moon and the stars. It isn’t deciding the destinies of nations. It isn’t ruling over the angels’ band. His greatest work is in the realm of salvation. He is saving His people from their sin. He saves them from the penalty of sin by washing them in His own blood. He saves them from the power of sin by putting the Holy Spirit in their hearts. He saves them from the presence of sin by taking them of this world and giving then a glorious home in Heaven.
B-It Means He Is Upon Us:
He came to deal with our weakness.
The Angel came to Mary and told her what to expect, and in her weakness, she said how? The angel told her, the Holy Spirit would come upon her.
A man once told a preacher, I would become a Christian, but I afraid, I cannot live it. The preacher replied, yes I agree with you, you cannot, but when you receive Jesus, He gives you the power.
C-It Means He is In Us:
He came to deal with our emptiness . So many feel empty during the Christmas season, and especially the day after Christmas.
In the Cartoon, Dennis the Menace, there is a scene of him opening presents on Sunday morning. He has opened about a dozen gifts, and then look at this father, and says, is that all?
There many today who ask the same question, is that all? Is this all there is to life? They wouldn’t ask that question if they would receive real life from Jesus Christ.
D-It Means He Is With Us:
He came to deal with our loneliness. So many feel like that no one cares for them.
I am reminded of the time, our Church visited a Boys ranch in South Alabama. We carried gifts to them during Christmas. One boy send us a thank you card, and said, please write me back. Why? He is like many in the world today, they are lonely.
Dr. Jerry Vines tell the time he was invited to preach a man’s funeral. When he got there it was raining and very cold. There were only two people that showed up, the two funeral personnel. He said, here was a man who had died, unloved and unsaved.
But Christmas means God is with us. I am glad I am saved this morning. I won’t have to cross Jordan alone.
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Jesus humbled Himself and fashioned Himself as a man.
At a reception honoring musician Sir Robert Mayer on his 100th birthday, elderly British socialite Lady Diana Cooper fell into conversation with a friendly woman who seemed to know her well. Lady Diana’s failing eyesight prevented her from recognizing her fellow guest until she peered more closely at the magnificent diamonds and realized she was talking to Queen Elizabeth! Overcome with embarrassment, Lady Diana curtsied and stammered, “Ma’am, oh, ma’am, I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t recognize you without your crown!”
Christmas is Jesus and one of his title is Emmanuel which means God is with us. Is He with you this morning.
NOTE-Sermon Idea-Dr. Jerry Vines
