This week, blog night is two nights late (I got home late on Monday and left my laptop at school yesterday) but better late than never. With Christmas being so close, lately I have been thinking about the Christmas story but also the story of Jesus in general. "Emmanuel, God with us" is a phrase we have all heard during the Christmas season since we were children. We probably have sung songs about it, said it in a Christmas play, or simply read it in the Bible. It is so well known that I think its true meaning is often overlooked. Jesus was here. On Earth. He was here, and His Spirit is alive in us right now.
I think we as Christians often read the Bible without comprehending that Christ was actually here. He walked on the Earth, He ate food, He cried real tears. He was just as much man as He was God, and that aspect of Him is not discussed as much. It can be hard to process: this Jesus that we worship and follow was on our planet. He breathed in oxygen like us, He had friendships like us, He felt pain like us. His humanity is shown throughout the gospels such as when He weeps at Lazarus's grave, walks and talks with His disciples, and feels physical and emotional pain throughout the process of His crucifixion. There is a Hillsong Young & Free song that I love (End of Days), which says, "You authored life and wrote Yourself in. You dwelt in time that You designed. Creator lived in His creation, completely man completely God." That just puts everything into true perspective.
He chose to leave Heaven to live in His creation then to sacrifice Himself for us. Think about it. It just makes His love that more magnificent. Heaven is a place where there is no sin, no pain, and no death. Jesus made the choice to leave all of that to come into this broken world just so we could experience Heaven with Him. He wants to be with us. With all His power and glory, He loves being with us. I am so thankful that He loves pouring out His presence on us because I love being with Him as well. It is a win-win situation.
The next time you hear the word "Emmanuel," take a minute to think about it. Fully soak in the love of Christ and what He did for you, for me, for all of us. what makes it even more amazing is that He is still with us. In John 14, Jesus promises that He will send the Holy Spirit to comfort us. He is very adamant about us knowing He will never leave us. It is true: Emmanuel, God with us.
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23 KJV
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26 KJV
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