December 25

“They shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us.” Matthew 1:23

The whole outworking of redemption activities was initiated by this coming of the Babe to Bethlehem. It illustrates in a supreme way the quiet and apparently small character of God‘s beginnings. Only a few humble shepherds were called in to witness this unique addition to the human race by which the eternal Son of God was thereafter able to claim to he the Son of Man.

Jesus himself adopted this description of himself and seemed to delight in it, though truly God, he was now truly Man. The title of Immanuel was never fully understood while Jesus was on earth and was probably never used by those nearest to him. Since Calvary and Pentecost, however, believers have claimed it as one of the most precious of his many names. He set his own seal on it when he assured his adoring apostles, “Lo, l am with you always.” Since he added “unto the end of the age,” we too can claim him as our ever-present Immanuel.