IMMANUEL – GOD WITH US
Dear friends, Christmas is a festival where we commemorate the birth of Our Lord Jesus. And just as every birthday is associated with the name of a person, Christmas is associated with the name that was given by God to His own Son – and that name is Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14). And the meaning of this name, as we all know, is ‘God with us.’ (Matthew 1: 23). Why would God choose such a name unless He meant to remind us each Christmas season that indeed, ‘He is with us’?
God longs to be with man. Even the sin that found its way into man’s soul could not hold back God from fulfilling that longing to be with man. He left His dwelling place and came down to earth. He went to the extent of becoming like a man in all respects except for sin. (Philippians 2:6-7). Even the name 'Immanuel' that He chose simply indicated the longing of His heart.
Man, on the other hand, has a longing for God that arises from the depth of his soul. Such longing drives him to see God, to hear Him, and to touch Him. David, described as a man after God’s heart, expressed this longing of his soul in the form of a poem …O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you. (Psalms 63:1). A little further, he goes on to express his longing to see God… Let me see you in the sanctuary; let me see how mighty and glorious you are. (Psalms 63:2). And then comes the longing to be held by God, to feel His touch… I cling to you, and your hand keeps me safe. (Psalms 63:8). Again, in Psalm 119, he expresses his longing to listen to God’s voice.
Mary had a longing for God. Even before the promised Immanuel could come, she believed that God would satisfy that longing, “My soul is glad because of God my Savior…” (Luke 1:47). She must have waited with longing to see Jesus, to hear Him and to hold Him. And indeed when that moment came, O that longing of her heart, it was finally fulfilled.
Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, Simeon and Anna at the Temple, and many others who waited with longing hearts could finally after seeing baby Jesus declare, “God is with us.” When Simeon saw baby Jesus at the Temple, we are told… he took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God: "Now, Lord, you have kept your promise, and you may let your servant go in peace. With my own eyes I have seen your salvation…” (Luke 2: 28-30). That was the longing in Simeon’s heart. He saw, he heard and he held baby Jesus. And his soul was satisfied. He was now ready to go from this world in peace.
The apostle John, who became the closest disciple of Jesus, begins his letter with the words… We write to you about the Word of life, which has existed from the very beginning. We have heard it, and we have seen it with our eyes; yes, we have seen it, and our hands have touched it. (1 John 1:1). The longing in John’s heart was visible to others even in his actions. At the Last Supper, we are told that he sat next to Jesus. It was clear by then, that among all the disciples, John’s heart longed for Jesus the most. In fact, when he wanted to ask Jesus about who would be the one who would betray Him, we are told that he moved closer to Jesus' side and asked, "Who is it, Lord?" (John 13: 23, 25). Jesus on the other hand, did not hold back anything from him; He gave him an answer. John experienced a ‘God who became so close to him.’
Therefore, there is a deep meaning behind the name, ‘Immanuel’. Only a person who longs for God will experience Him as a God who is with him; and his soul will feast and be satisfied by God Himself. As we read in David's case – he began by saying “My soul is thirsty for you.” In the same poem, he goes on to say, “My soul will feast and be satisfied.” (Psalms 63:5). St. Augustine put it differently, “You have made us for yourself O Lord and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
In conclusion, before we enter into the year 2024, may this Christmas season lead us to ponder deeply on those words, ‘God with us;’ and may our pondering stir the longing in our hearts to live in union with a God who longs to live in union with us. As the disciple who loved Jesus writes… Those who obey God's commands live in union with God and God lives in union with them. And because of the Spirit that God has given us we know that God lives in union with us. (1 John 3:24).