Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Tonight’s Study, Session 19: Immanuel – God with us
Introduction: The name Immanuel appears twice in the Hebrew Scriptures and once in the New Testament. One of the most comforting of all the names and titles of Jesus, it is literally translated “with us is God” or as Matthew’s Gospel puts it, “God with us.” When our sins made it impossible for us to come to Him, God took the outrageous step of coming to us, of making Himself susceptible to sorrow, familiar with temptation, and vulnerable to sin’s disruptive power in order to cancel its claim. In Jesus we see how extreme God’s love is. Remember this the next time you feel discouraged, abandoned, or too timid to undertake some new endeavor. For Jesus is still Immanuel – He is still “God with us.”
Key Scripture in the New Testament where the name Immanuel appears is Matthew 1:22–23 .
Scriptural Context Where Immanuel is Found
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:18-23)
Understanding The Name
The name Immanuel first appears in Isaiah 7:14 as part of a prophetic word that Isaiah spoke to king Ahaz of Judah (the southern kingdom) at a time when Aram and Israel (the northern kingdom) had formed a coalition against Assyria. The prophet Isaiah counseled Ahaz not to join in their uprising against Assyria, he urged Ahaz to trust in the Lord. Then the prophet invited Ahaz to ask the Lord for a sign to confirm the prophetic word, but the king refused.
In response to Ahaz’s refusal to trust God, Isaiah proclaimed: 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)
Matthew’s gospel recalls Isaiah’s prophecy, applying it to the child who would soon be born to Mary (Matthew 1:22-23). This sign was given approximately 700 years before Jesus was born. The promise given was for all God’s people. In Jesus, God succeeded in a unique way, becoming a man in order to save the world not from the outside, but from the inside. Immanuel, God with us, came to rescue, redeem, and restore our relationship with Him.
Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy because He was literally “God with us,” He was fully human yet still fully God. Christ came to live in Israel with His people, as Isaiah had foretold. Matthew recognized Jesus as Immanuel, the living expression of the incarnation – the miracle of the Son of God becoming a human and making His home among us so that He could reveal God to us. Jesus was God with us, manifested in human flesh.*
*1 Timothy 3:16 – And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
The Gospel of John beautifully describes the incarnation: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:14-18)
In Jesus, God walked with us and talked with us as He did with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Christ’s arrival showed all humanity that God is faithful to fulfill His promises. Jesus was not just a sign of God with us, like the sign that was given to king Ahaz, Jesus was God with us in person.
Jesus is Immanuel. He is not a partial revelation of God with us; Jesus is God with us in all His fullness: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; (Colossians 2:9). Jesus left the glories of heaven and took on the form of a servant so that He could identify with us in our day-to-day human struggles.
Philippians 2:5-11
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Just imagine, a God who came down to earth, so He could be down to earth with us. Jesus, our Immanuel experienced everything we could or would ever go through. Therefore, He can sympathize with us, He has been there. And since Jesus is our Immanuel, He is also our Savior. God sent His Son to live among us and die for our sins on the cross. Through His shed blood, we can be reconciled to God. When we are born of His Spirit (born again), Christ comes to live in us forever, truly our Immanuel, God with us.
Some Practical Application of Knowing Immanuel – God with us
1.Recognizing God’s Presence in Daily Life:
Work and Purpose: God is with us in our work, even when we’re facing challenges or pursuing our unique calling. We can strive to do our best, manage our work or businesses well, and serve others with a sense of purpose, knowing He is present.
Relationships: God’s presence encourages us to cultivate strong relationships with others, showing compassion and love.
Joys and Struggles: Whether we’re experiencing joy or facing difficulties, remembering God’s presence can bring comfort, hope, and a sense of assurance.
2.Seeking Guidance and Strength:
Prayer and Scripture: Prayer and the study of Scripture provide us with guidance, wisdom, and strength to navigate life’s challenges.
Trusting God’s plan: Knowing that God has a plan for our lives, even if it’s not always clear, can bring a sense of peace and assurance.
Courage and Perseverance: Remembering God’s presence gives us courage to persevere through difficult times and to stand firm in our faith.
- Living with a Sense of Hope and Assurance:
Reassurance in Christ: God’s presence in Christ, our Immanuel, provides reassurance and comfort in times of uncertainty and fear.
Trusting in His love: We can trust in God’s love, knowing He has been where we are and understands our struggles.
Appreciating God’s Grace: Recognizing God’s grace and forgiveness can lead to a transformed life and a deeper connection with Him.
In essence, living as an Immanuel believer means actively embracing God’s presence in all aspects of life, seeking His guidance, and trusting in His love and care.
Conclusion: Our Immanuel will be with us forever. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5b). After His resurrection from the dead, before Jesus returned to the Father, He made this promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). The Holy Spirit who lives in us is the seal of God’s ownership of us and the forever guarantee of His presence in us. God is alive, and He is near. He wants to communicate and commune with us. That is the joy of the Christian life as a result of knowing Immanuel – God with us.
Next Week, Session 20: Abba – God our Father