Tuesday, Day 24: Immanuel means "God Is With Us"

For Kids:

Christmas is soon here...are you excited about it coming?

Do you know what it means for Jesus to be born as a baby?

Mothers have babies all of the time don’t they?

Children are born every day all over the world, aren’t they?

So what makes Jesus’ birth so different from all of the rest?

God’s word says something happened when Jesus was born. 

When Jesus’ Dad, Joseph, was visited by the angel, the angel told him that Jesus was going to be very different from all other babies born.

Matthew 1:23
²³  “The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son, and they will name him Immanuel,“ which means “God is with us.“

Just think about it…God is “with us”.

Did you ever look at your Mom and ask her, “Will you go with me?”  “Can I go with you?”  “Can I have my blanket, or stuffed animal with me in bed?”

When Mom says, “Yes” to any of those, doesn’t it make you feel happy? 

We want to have things we love with us. 

God loves us so much that he sent his Son to be born as a baby, so that he could be “with” us.

There is a great song that is known more in England and Scotland entitled “He is born, the Divine Christ Child.” 

The words are below, but if you click on the video you can hear the Veggie Tales sing it to you:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlmglbpb_-s

He is born, the holy Christ child.
Play the oboe and bagpipes merrily.
He is born, the holy Christ child.
Sing we all of the Saviour's birth

1. Through long ages of the past,
Prophets have foretold his coming;
Through long ages of the past,
Now the time has come at last.

2. Oh, how lovely, oh, how pure.
Is this perfect child of heaven.
Oh, how lovely, oh, how pure,
Gracious gift of God, to man.  [repeat #1]

3. Jesus, Lord of all the world,
Coming as a child among us,
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
Grant to us Thy heav'nly peace.

On the following page you can color the words Immanuel, God with Us.

For Parents and Other Not Kids:

Immanuel means "God with us"

Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

We use the word "with" in many favorable ways. "Will you go with me?" Whether it's the store, a football game, a party, or much bigger than all of that... through life, it still represents the partnership, shared space, journeying together or alongside that makes it so appealing. 

Then the angel of the Lord comes along and says to Joseph - and by extension to all of us - "they will call him Immanuel - which means God with us." 

Think about that... 

God is "with" us.

Not because we're good...or deserve it...or only when we are at worship...or when you're giving...or when you're nice, polite, etc... 

Simply, I'll be WITH you. 

God sent Prophets, Kings, Apostles, Poets, even Farmers and Fishermen...all proclaimed messages, and some did miracles...but none of that is equivalent to, or nearly as needed, as "Immanuel...with you".

From Heaven He Came

From Heaven He came, O Praise His Name,
The Christ who took my shame.
King of all was He, yet He chose to be
But a man like me
So He came.

The Son of God, chose earth's cold sod
Left heaven's splendor rare.
And with naught to gain, Jesus stooped to claim
Man's despair.

He emptied Himself of all but love,
And came to live here with us.
He stepped from heaven's home
To ascend a cross-throne; wear a thorn-crown
And all for me.

(Words by Jack Hayford, with some changes by me)

Peace