What A Wonderful Name: Emmanuel

This morning I sat at the kitchen table as the sun gently peaked over the mesa, raining a glorious morning glow over the piles of snow from yesterday. I thought to myself, what a wonderful way to begin today, the sun washing away the difficulties of the cold night, ready and anxious to thaw the ice covered ground. I was filled with awe that God gives us such beauty such as snow and sunshine simultaneously. Awe that God had the mercy enough to listen to my sleepy prayer this morning when I first woke up to keep my husband safe as he drove the slippery roads to work. Awe that my God was gracious enough to wash out the darkness in His light. It truly prepared my heart for this last post in the series "What A Wonderful Name," a series God laid upon my heart, and one I hope has touched you in some small way.

On Sunday, we stayed home from church because we received word that our neighbor got stuck on our snowy road, and decided we didn't want to end up the same way. It was quite wonderful actually, to spend the day cooped up from the snow with my love, and it gave me an extra day to recover from this cold that continues to cling to me. We watched a plethora of TV shows, football games and movies. One of which was the new animated Christmas movie, "The Star." If you have not watched this movie, please do so! It is a beautiful, sweet, funny reminder of the reason for Christmas. I cried more than once. It made today's post even more important. Today, friends, we will cover the most important story in history. The story of a King to some, the story of a baby to others, but the story of Emmanuel to me.

This story, words cannot describe its beauty, but I will try to convey its significance the best I can. I urge you to take in the God-breathed words found in Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12 and Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-21.

Our story opens on a young couple in love, waiting and working patiently for the day they become one. So far, everything has gone smoothly and the plans are coming together. Joseph has built a simple home, Mary has learned her mother's best housekeeping tips, and they have waited for one another. The date of they wedding is set, and young Mary excitedly learns all she can about being a wife. One day as Mary attended her duties, an angel appears.

Let's stop there for a moment and imagine. You are standing over your hot stove, stirring the chicken noodle soup for dinner tonight, wondering what your fiance is up to, and a magnificent, gorgeous angel appears next to you. How would you feel? What emotions would overtake you? Fear? Awe? Worship?

In the simplest of words, this angel, Gabriel, told Mary the biggest news of her life: She was carrying the Son of God.

Our story then pans to Joseph, who was just told the news. His fiance, Mary, was pregnant, but no, not with HIS child. The Son of God? Confusion flooded Joseph, fear of ridicule and shame overwhelmed his heart and mind. He couldn't marry this woman now, it would be too shameful. He decided he must sleep on it, and that he would make a final decision in the morning. As he fell into a deep sleep in the night, and angel came to him in a dream, and spoke to Joseph's heart some significant words.

“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 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). Matthew 1: 20b-23

Mary will have a Son, He will save His people from their sins. His name will be Jesus. His Name will be Emmanuel.

He will be God With Us.

As the story of God With Us continues, it was a difficult journey from the beginning. He could have come to us, simply appeared, as He had before in the fiery furnace. But He humbly became a baby, a human child, in a stable. No clean, warm crib to lay in, just a manger filled with hay. From there, the journey got more difficult. Jesus and His family had to flee to Egypt when He was a young boy, because a decree for the death of all baby boys was set in place. We don't know much else after this about his childhood, but we know He learned carpentry from His father, we know that His mother was eventually left as a widow, and we know that Jesus left His home and family to pursue souls for His kingdom. That was no easy feat. He was homeless, He had little money, and He faced temptation and persecution at nearly every turn.

Jesus' life here on earth began tumultuously, and it didn't seem to really stop. It was starkly contrasted to God's life in heaven, with eternal light and life.

Imagine this for a moment, so we can, together, truly understand what God with Us encompasses. You graduate from college with a degree in, say, human resources. You begin applying for jobs all over the place, and you get a call for a job at a company very far from your college or hometown (where all your family is, your life, your friends, your apartment, your car). You go in for the interview with the CEO. He tells you that this job requires you to give up everything you have ever known. The type of food you eat, the type of place you live (actually, you won't really live anywhere, in fact, you will be lucky to get to stay in a hotel once in a while), and you won't know anyone familiar. You won't even be staying in the same place for more than a few days at a time. You listen and deliberate for a moment, and you are about to say yes. The CEO with a fancy, expensive suit and an immeasurable amount of power gravely says, "You will work here about three years, and then you will be put to death. It will save millions and millions of people, but it will be a painful, horrible death of betrayal and sacrifice."

Can you say that you would tell the CEO yes, give me the job? I don't know that I could. Jesus did. God came to live with us, only to die for us.

God came down to be with us, and all that that means. Our God is glorious, and Above All.

He left His perfect throne in heaven.

He left eternity, He left the choir of glorious angels saying, "Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty!"

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:8

And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!” Isaiah 6:3

He left His title of Father behind, and became SON.

He left his perfect, fleshless being behind. He took on a human heart, blood and bones. He took on a stomach that felt hunger, and body that grew weary and exhausted. He took on the feat of poverty and homelessness. He took on the ridicule and hatred.

Jesus took on the overwhelming temptation of the devil, constantly following him around.

He became just like us. He felt hurt, betrayal, sickness, hunger, fatigue, temptation, the desire to sin, the desire to disobey His earthly parents, anger, frustration. God became man WITH US. To SAVE US.

The perfect God of heaven gave it all up and became man, just to be with us.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

This was the plan from the beginning.

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

Before this happened, He was far away from us. We could not reach him, we could not take hold of him, until He emptied Himself for us. God loved us, He wanted to be with us, so He did. He took it a step further and made our togetherness possible for eternity. Jesus emptied Himself of goodness and took on all sin, so that we could conquer death with Him and experience the celestial glory that being with God brings.

God became the SON, to wash away the darkness of our hearts. Just as the sun rose this morning, washing away the darkness, flooding our homes and lands with warm light, so did the Son of God, God With Us, Emmanuel, flood our earth with the light of His love, grace, and mercy. In the very single moment that sweet, favored Mary gave birth to that small child, the world was changed with the Light of Love, forever.

This month, I urge you in the days leading up to Christmas, read the story of Jesus' birth again, and again, and again. Meditate on the fact that this small child was born to die, for you. That was His sole purpose in becoming Emmanuel. Pray for God to pierce your heart with the truth of this season. Thank Him for becoming not only Emmanuel, but also sin and death so that you might live.

As you buy those Christmas presents and sing those carols, know the real reason for the birth of that child. Know that it isn't really about the holly and Christmas ornaments, but about the Savior.

Merry Christmas, friends. What a Merry Christmas.