Immanuel Has Come
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. ~Isaiah 7:14
Immanuel. God with us. Not just a nice thought but God’s promise to send a Savior that would rescue His people. Not from the cruelty of the Romans as many supposed but from an enemy just as deadly: ourselves (Matthew 1:21).
The Jewish people waited forever for the Messiah to arrive and, when He did come, only a handful recognized Him. They wondered if it was Him when He multiplied fish and bread to feed thousands of people. They hoped He was the one healing the sick and raising the dead. But when push came to shove, and He did not fit in the box they’d created for Him, they abandoned their anticipation and chose to have Him murdered. Little did they know, as they watched Him take His last breath, that Immanuel had indeed come, bringing the salvation that He had promised.
Thankfully, that is not the end of the story. Three days later, he rose from the dead and continues to live on in the lives of His children. For those who accept Him, He continues to give peace that passes understanding, love and forgiveness that would not be possible without His help, and a promise of eternal life to those who are faithful.
Immanuel has come and, even now, is here! If that’s not a reason to rejoice, I don’t know what is.
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