The events around Jesus’ birth are incredible. A virgin conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Matt. 1:18). Angels foretold His birth (cf. Matt. 1:20-21; Luke 1:26-38). A multitude of the heavenly host appeared praising God when that blessed day came (Lk. 2:8-14). As Matthew recorded such wondrous events, he was inspired to add this helpful explanation: “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)” (Matt. 1:22-23).
He was referencing the prophet Isaiah. Over 730 years before Jesus’ birth, Judah – where the descendants of Israel’s great King David reigned – was under attack, and the pressure had King Ahaz – who was nothing like his faithful ancestor – shaking (cf. Isa. 7:1-2, 2 Kgs. 16:1-4). When Ahaz refused God’s offer of a reassuring sign, God gave one any way: a virgin would bear a son called Immanuel, which means “God is with us” (cf. Isa. 7:11-17). Because God was with them, it would one day be said, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:2, 6).
By invoking this ancient promise of “Immanuel”, Matthew not only shows us how spectacular Jesus’ birth was but how it fulfilled a story centuries in the making. The whole Bible is about our powerful and loving God seeking relationship with the humans He created in His image – and about our persistent refusal to accept it. We consistently chose chaos over standing firm, evil over good, darkness over light. For every David who truly loved God, there would be an Ahaz not far behind to once again ruin everything with sin. Until Immanuel: “God with us”. He would be the heir of God’s promise to David for a descendant who would rule forever (cf. 2 Sam. 7:12-16). And not just as a son of David: He would be the Son of God, shining God’s light into the darkness and blessing the world with God’s presence as He reigns.
So, Jesus is not just an amazing person with an impressive story. He is the Word who “became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14). Though in the form of God, He emptied Himself, becoming like us in every way so that He might rescue us through His own suffering (cf. Phil. 2:6-7, Heb. 2:14-18). And if God “did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).
This is Jesus, and through Him we know God is with us.
As different people encountered Jesus, they had all sorts of reactions. How do you see Him? This is Jesus: learn more at https://www.georgetownchurchofchrist.com/this-is-jesus.