Title: Immanuel Jesus / Matthew 1:17-23
Content In Matthew 1, three titles are used when referring to Jesus, the Son of God. Verse 17 says “Christ”. Messiah in Hebrew means 'anointed' in Korean. Because only kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil, it means that Christ came as king over mankind, as a priest who intercedes sinners with God, and as a prophet who conveys God's will to mankind.
Verse 21 says, “Jesus.” “You will give birth to a son, and you shall name him Jesus. for he will save his people from their sins.”
Verse 23 says “Immanuel”. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall call his name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us.”
The above three titles perfectly express the disposition of Jesus who came as both God and man. Jesus, the Son of God, is the Christ, Jesus, and Emmanuel. Among these three nicknames for Jesus, the gist of today's message is 'Jesus Emmanuel God.'
1. Immanuel Jesus before the incarnation
In the beginning there was the Word. The Word was with God, and it was God. This Word God was the eternal God who existed before creation. This God created the heavens and the earth. And he was always with creation.
Even after creating the first man, Adam, he was always with them. The prohibition against eating good and evil is proof that God is always with us. God was with Noah too. He was always with those who followed the will of the Lord, even among prodigal humans. He was also with Abraham. When I had to give up the fertile land to my nephew Lot, whom I loved, when I was in despair because of my nephew who left me, and when I was in a state of giving up without having children, God was with me. God was always with Jacob and Moses. Even in the midst of having to cross the Red Sea, He was with the Israelites who had left Egypt as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He was with us in the face of the great problem of crossing the Jordan River and in the impregnable fortress that had to destroy Jericho. Nevertheless, the Israelites constantly complained and complained to God. However, God did not give up on us until the end and led us to the land of Canaan.
Dear saints! God is always with you in front of the Red Sea, in the face of the huge problem of crossing the Jordan River, and in the face of a huge problem such as Jericho, which is too big to help. In human history, God has always been with us. However, this was the stage of prophecy in order to become incarnate and be together. In other words, it was an imperfect being together. Because the eternal way to save human life has not yet been laid.
2. Immanuel Jesus incarnate
The beginning of Jesus is the beginning. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This word God speaks of Jesus. These words God decided to become flesh and dwell among us. That is why John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father.” The God of the beginning has now decided to be with us in an amazing way. God, who has come as a spirit so far, has now come to us in a physical body. This is again said in Philippians 2:6 and below. “He, being in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as robbery, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and being made in human form, and being found in human form, humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Ira.”
Jesus in the flesh came to us as our savior. John 3:17 says, “God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” Everyone, let's receive Jesus as our Savior in our hearts now. This is our only way to live.
Jesus, who came to us in the flesh, came as a healer. Matthew 4:24 records, “He brought them all who were ill, those who were afflicted with various diseases and afflictions, those who had demons, those who had epilepsy, and those who were paralyzed, and he healed them.” Dear saints! Now, the Lord is coming to those who are in the midst of physical illness. I hope that you will receive Jesus, who came as a healer, into your heart and experience the amazing grace of healing that the Lord gives you.
Also, Jesus, who came in the flesh, came as a comforter. Matthew 11:28-29 says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden. I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Then your hearts will find rest.”
For those of us who are looking for happiness in the world, Jesus wants to come to you right now. God always rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). The peace that Jesus gives is different from what this world gives (John 14:27). That is why Paul exhorts us in Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Come to God now and receive true peace. And let's enjoy true peace. We are now at peace with God through Christ.
3. Immanuel Jesus as Spirit
Jesus, who is Emmanuel God, is always with us by sending the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to us even after the resurrection. John 14:16 says, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever.” The Holy Spirit, who is with us for eternity, is with us wherever we are and at any time. He is with us when we fail. He is with us even when we succeed. He is with us even in moments of abundance, joy, and joy.
The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, is the guide in all things. John 14:26 says, “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, who will teach you all things and will remind you of all that I have said to you.” Dear saints! Even when you are wandering, not knowing where you are going, the Holy Spirit guides you. We just pray so that we can hear and obey the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.
Gentlemen, when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we receive amazing power. This power transforms us amazingly. He directs all of our lives and guides our lives so that we can live like Christians. Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth.”
Do you want this power? First, if we humbly confess that we are sinners and repent of our sins, God will surely give us the Holy Spirit as a gift. Acts 2:38 says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Because we have received the Holy Spirit, we always realize that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. 1 John 4:13 says, “We know that we abide in him, and he abides in us, because he has given us his Holy Spirit.”
Dear saints!
Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that comes judgment.” Jesus will come back to our side as Judge and will be with us forever. Ladies and gentlemen, in order not to come to judgment and to have eternal life, you must have Jesus in your heart. John 5:24 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not come into judgment, but has crossed over from death to life.” All our deeds will be revealed before the judgment seat. Whether good or evil, God remembers every single moment. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive according to what he has done in the body, whether good or bad.”
Dear saints!
God wanted to be with us so much. So he called his name Immanuel. If it was clear that you were with us, how would the name itself mean ‘with you’? Emmanuel God Jesus! That Jesus was with us in the history of the Old Testament, and now He took on the flesh and was with us to give us eternal life. And you died on the cross to open the way for us to eternal life. Even after the resurrection, He is with us as the eternal Holy Spirit. And he will be with us again as Judge for eternity.