The Savior: Immanuel And Jesus Series

Video: Christmas Confusion

How are you doing hanging on to Christ this Christmas? Does Christmas seem confusing or is it just a chaotic time of year for you? I submit if you want to understand Christmas, you must get to know who Christ is, and what He came to do. We could say it like this: The mission of the cross is hidden in the message of the cradle.

We’re wrapping up our series called, “The Cast of Christmas.” Three weeks ago, we pondered multiple prophecies which were fulfilled with pinpoint precision by the coming of Christ. Two weeks ago, we focused on how the angels gave glory to God and declared the message of good news of great joy for all the people. Last weekend, we studied the shepherds and learned how God brings us through a specific process so we can make spiritual progress.

Matthew’s gospel begins with an extended genealogy of Jesus to show us his humanity. The narrative in Matthew 1:18-25 describes His deity. My wife Beth will come now and read this passage.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

For our purposes today, we’ll focus on verses 21-23 where we’re given two names of Jesus. Are you aware there are some 200 names of Jesus in the Bible? In Bible times, names didn’t just distinguish or label a person; they revealed the very nature of an individual. The term for name in the Old Testament means “individual mark” and communicated an individual’s essence. In the New Testament, the word for name comes from a verb that means “to know.” To know the names of Jesus means to personally know His personality.

In college, as a new Christ-follower, I had a poster in my dorm room which listed many of His names. Here are just a few: Advocate, Lamb of God, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Man of Sorrows, Teacher, Alpha and Omega, Dayspring, Anchor, Judge, Bread of Life, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Immanuel, and Jesus.

These last two names are found in our passage. Let’s examine their profound meaning.

• “You shall call His name Jesus…and he called His name Jesus” (Matthew 1:21, 25)

• “And they shall call His name Immanuel…” (Matthew 1:23)

Both names are defined for us.

• “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Because God is for us, He forgives us. That’s the mission, or purpose of Jesus.

• “And they shall call His name Immanuel (which means, God with us)” (Matthew 1:23). Because God is with us, He forbears with us. That’s the message, or presence of Jesus.

The mission of the cross is hidden in the message of the cradle. Let’s consider these two names in reverse order.

1. Immanuel. Because God is with us, He forbears with us. Listen to verses 22-23 again: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).” Details surrounding the birth of Jesus were predicted by the prophets, fulfilling prophecies made hundreds of years earlier. This quote is from Isaiah 7:14.

The word “behold” can be translated, “Lo and behold!” and was used to arrest attention. What God was about to do was intended to be shocking, startling, and surprising. The definite article “the” indicates God had in mind one specific virgin named Mary, whom He had chosen to become pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

The virgin will not only conceive but she will also “bear a son.” This shows the humanity of Jesus. The next phrase shows His deity: “And shall call His name Immanuel” (“Im” means “with,” “anu” means “us,” and “El” means “the mighty creator God”), which translated means, “The strong God with us.” Or more literally, “The ‘with us’ God.” God is not a distant deity. Growing up, I viewed God as majestic, mighty, and mad at me. It wasn’t until I was 19 that I learned He is also gracious, loving, and near.