Long ago Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would conceive and bear a son and call his name “Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14).  This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus was born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem.  Angels announced this miraculous birth to simple shepherds, who came to stand in awe before the sight.

    Over the centuries, many have joined them in amazement that such a miracle could occur.  The Virgin Birth became one of the bedrock truths of the Christian faith, a truth to be defended at all cost.  And that is as it should be, for if Jesus had a human father as well as a human mother, He would be just like the rest of us.  And we would have no hope.

    But He did not have a human father.  Mary was a virgin when she conceived, and she remained a virgin until after He was born.  Scripture is crystal clear about this important truth, giving us a basis for hope that Jesus could die in our place, since He did not have to die, and pay our debt, since He owed none.

    Almost lost in all of the emphasis on the virgin birth is the meaning of the name or title He was given: “Emmanuel.”  Matthew translated it for us: “which being interpreted is, God with us.”

    God with us.  What a remarkable thought!  The people of that first century world thought of God as far off and unapproachable.  But on that first Christmas night, God came close.  “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)  He came to the earth in physical form to share our space.  That’s amazing.  But He also  came to share our experience.  That’s more than amazing!

    He knew hunger and heartache.  He knew exhaustion and rejection.  He knew temptation and trials.  He was strong and gentle at the same time, driving the money changers out of the Temple, but gathering little children to Himself.  He lived in a real world with real problems, just as we do.  He was Emmanuel:  God with us.

    And He still is.  Though rejected, executed and buried, He did not go away.  He rose in life and ascended in glory.  But He kept His promise to send “another comforter,” someone just like Himself.  Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in every Christian, we can enter into the experience of the first century believers.  He becomes for us “Emmanuel:  God with us.”

    As we celebrate another Christmas, we will look back to the time when God came close.  When He entered the world as “Emmanuel:  God with us.”  We would do well to look within to remind ourselves that God is still close.  He is still Emmanuel.