They Shall Call Him Emmanuel

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: