Christmas represents one of the most significant events in human history—when God came into our world in the form of His Son, Jesus.
The Gospel of Matthew says that Jesus’ birth “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).”1 Jesus’ conception was like no other before or after.
Mary received a visit from an angel who announced:
Angel Gabriel: “Behold, you will conceive and bear a son who will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”2
Mary: “How will this be?”3
Angel Gabriel: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”4
Mary: “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”5
Nine months later, the unique person who was both God and man was born—Immanuel, “God with us.”
Some of the manifestations of “God with us” were seen through Jesus’ actions, such as:
Jesus: “I will; be clean.”
Jesus: “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
Jesus: “Lazarus, come out!”
Jesus: “Your sins are forgiven.”
Criminal: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”15
At Christmas, and every other day of the year, all of us within whom the Spirit of God dwells are in a sense an extension of “God with us” in our community—to our friends and neighbors, our coworkers, the people who serve us in shops and restaurants, and strangers whom the Lord brings across our paths.
Man: Kind people who moved in next door.
Woman: Aye! And their children are polite.
Secretary: Hey, they just invited us to a huge Christmas celebration!
Wait staff: ...and they’re always so respectful to us.
Busker, thinking: Whoa! They gave me ten euros!
The love we show through our interactions with others, the words we speak and actions we take, the kindness and generosity we show, the helping hand we offer, reflect the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
Woman: Come on in, Mr. O’Hara. Happy Christmas!
Others can sense something uncommon and special in us, and when we explain that God is with us and can be with them as well, we help to fulfill the ultimate reason of Christmas.
Christmas is the celebration of “God with us,” the birth of His Son, who lived and died in order to make it possible for us to come into relationship with God and for the Spirit of God to dwell within us. What a joyful reason to celebrate!
Footnotes:
1 Matthew 1:22–23. All scriptures are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
2 Luke 1:31–33
3 Luke 1:34
4 Luke 1:35
5 Luke 1:38
6 See Matthew 8:1–4, 14–15, 9:27–33, 12:22–23, 17:15–18, 20:30–34, 21:14; Mark 1:30–31, 7:32–37, 8:22–25, 9:25–27, 10:46–52; Luke 4:33–35, 8:27–35, 9:38–42, 14:1–4, 18:35–43; and John 4:46–53, 9:1–7.
7 See Matthew 14:14–21.
8 See Matthew 15:32–38.
9 See Matthew 14:22–33.
10 See Luke 7:11–16.
11 See Mark 5:22–23, 35–43.
12 See John 11:1–44.
13 See Matthew 9:2–8.
14 See Colossians 1:19–22, 2:13–14 and Ephesians 2:13–19.
15 Luke 23:43–44
This article is excerpted from “Immanuel.” Directors’ Corner. December 8, 2015.Authored by Peter Amsterdam. Illustrated by Jeremy. Designed by Roy Evans.Published by My Wonder Studio. Copyright © 2020 by The Family International