Title: Immanuel Jesus / Matthew 1:21-23
Contents Immanuel Jesus / Matthew 1:21-23
Seoul Jangseok Church / Yongnam Lee
Like the song of the angels heard in the fields of Bethlehem in Judea, on this Christmas, I pray that God will have infinite glory, and that peace be with us on earth and among the many saints who are attending this worship service today.
Because it is Christmas every year and the busy season of the end of the year, the meaning changes depending on the attitudes of the people who welcome it, sometimes it is distorted, and sometimes it is a day to feel deep emotion, joy, and grace. Years ago, in the small town of Somerville near Boston, USA, for Christmas, I made a model of the birth scene of the baby Jesus in front of the application. But, unexpectedly, a prankster stole the baby Jesus, and he was in great trouble. Jesus' father, mother, and even the wise men and shepherds who came from afar to celebrate the birth of Jesus were still there. Even the sackcloth and manger were all intact. But there was no Jesus. No matter how bright the neon signs, the trees, the joyful music, and the gifts you entrust to receive, a Christmas without Jesus is unthinkable. However, you may have to wonder if we are still enjoying Christmas without Jesus as we did in front of Somoville City Hall.
In today's text, the words that explain the birth of Jesus are recorded. But that Jesus is Emmanuel. Immanuel is a Hebrew word meaning 'God with us'. For that reason, Christmas is the day when we realize the meaning of Jesus who is with us, and when we understand the meaning of Jesus, we will have a true Christmas.
1. We must first consider the relationship between Israel and Jesus. There is a saying that a widow knows what a widow knows, and a widower knows what a widower knows. If you are in the same situation like this, you will not be able to understand, accept, or communicate with the other person without seeing them. That's why the German writer Goethe said, "Only those who have tasted the sufferings I suffer can know." You have to be in the same situation to know the situation.
It is unthinkable that God came into man to be with man. Even if you had come, we would not have been able to get along and communicate with you. He came to us, and His presence with us as a man was fulfilled. Therefore, Emmanuel, the God with us, became more urgent and evident in Jesus. He came and suffered and hunger just like us, and he cried out to God and wept and wept. Also, in the way of life that He shed blood and even died, we see ourselves.
In the Lord's need, who said, "Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." We can find God who understands our needs. As you weep in front of the tomb of Lazarus, you can see that I was alone and weeping in pain. Also, while facing death and knowing that it was God's will, he prayed, "Father, if it is possible, take this cup away from me."
In this way, in Jesus we can see us and we can see God in him at the same time, so that we can realize that he is the God who came into us and Emmanuel who dwells with us. When we come to know the deep and correct meaning of Immanuel found in this Jesus, the meaning of Christmas will be renewed.
2. What is the purpose of Immanuel for Jesus' coming to us?
In saying that God became a human being, we can find a tremendous demeaning beyond the meaning of the king becoming a beggar. This is not a change of position or value in the same class. It is a completely unimaginable change in the mode of existence, a huge devaluation. Even under a democratic system based on the idea of equality where there is no one above and no one below, if the president shakes hands or shares a meal with some commoner, it becomes big news and is often introduced in newspapers and TV shows. can. If it is great to close the gap that arises from the difference in status among the same human beings, it is unnecessary to say that God became a human being.
But, how can we not be surprised that the cause of the humiliation is human love? We see in 1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son as the propitiation for our sins." When Jesus came to this earth and became Immanuel, it is an expression of God's love. It means that He came to save people who are blind and deaf because of sin and turn away from the love of God and live a new life by saving people who are going to death but do not know the way of death. That is why Jesus came to this earth as ?쐔he Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world??and came so that ?쐗hoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.??Jesus, His becoming a man has no other purpose. You have to remember that it is only human love.
3. What happened to us as a result of God becoming Immanuel?
When God became a man and came to us to live with us, a change took place in our status. You get more recognition when you go out with a friend who wears the captain's badge than when you walk around the unit with a friend who wears the so-called insignia. Even more so when playing with a star-studded general. In this way, depending on who you are with, that person is evaluated. As the old adults said, ?쏽ou can know a person by looking at a friend.??You can judge a person by looking at the person you are with.
But now that God is with us, how can this not be different? In John 1:12, He said this about those who were with Jesus who became Immanuel. ?쏷o all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.??In other words, by living with Jesus, the Son of God, we become the Son of God.
It's not usually a change, really. It's such a huge and unimaginable change. So 2 Corinthians 5:17 ?쏷herefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, the new things have come.??As you can see, they are emphasizing 'a new creation.' Even if upgraded, it is not usually upgraded, so the term 'new creature' is being used. So, before, human beings who were as small as a particle and abandoned like a rolling stone are now more precious than the world. God became a man to give life meaning, and to make this life more noble, Jesus died on the cross. How can we say that it is worthless? It has become a precious and precious life. It is meaningful and new, and each step in our life becomes valuable and rewarding, enabling us to live a positive, active, happy life that does not back down and only thinks about moving forward.
The birth of Jesus, Immanuel, who became God and came to us and dwelt with us, said, "But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20). It is a great blessing and grace that enabled us to live with pride as citizens of the kingdom of heaven even though we live on the ground as you said. Therefore, we hope that this Christmas will be a celebration of the meaning of the birth of Jesus, who became Immanuel, and that we promise to live a life that is not ashamed of this great blessing and grace.