Title: Jesus is Emmanuel
Contents
Title: Jesus is Emmanuel
Text: Matthew 1:18-23
Among the many events related to the birth of Jesus Christ, the most important is that the angel of God encourages Joseph. Although Joseph was troubled and troubled by the news that his betrothed Mary was expecting a baby, Joseph was a righteous man. I didn't want to reveal this and wanted to quit quietly. At that time, he understood and encouraged Joseph through his messenger of God. Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would give birth to the Son of God. And he said to call his name Jesus (who will save his people from their sins). This was to fulfill what God had said through the prophet, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall call his name Immanuel (God with us)” (Isaiah 7:14). Then, did you not call him Immanuel, the name that God testified through the prophets, but Jesus? What is the reason, intent, and purpose?
1. Joseph's Thoughts
Joseph found out that Mary, to whom he had been betrothed, was pregnant. The sudden news could not help but surprise him. He is a descendant of David. He is a man who lived with the faith that God promised through David. He is a righteous man. A person who reverently obeys God's laws and ordinances. How did he try to solve what happened to Maria? He didn't want to make Mary miserable with the problem. I tried to solve the problem quietly without revealing the problem. So, they wanted to cut off their betrothal relationship quietly. Joseph was truly a man with a caring heart. Even though it was an event and situation that he could not understand, he shows an example of humility and patience while thinking deeply and waiting for God's guidance and will. God revealed to Joseph the secret of all God's salvation through the angel of the Lord. It was the fulfillment of God's prophecy.
2. Jesus (the One who will save us from our sins)
The Lord's messenger to Joseph was that Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God, and that when she gave birth to a son, she should call her 'Jesus'. It is the One who will save his people from our sins. This is the fulfillment of the Messianic covenant promised through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. God originally created man in His own image and wanted to be with him. This is God's love. However, human pride and Satan's temptation broke the relationship between God and man. As a result, death came upon mankind. All people were bound by sin by committing the same sin as Adam, and are bound to the fate of slavery to the devil. God's providence of salvation to save these people is the mystery of the coming of the Son of God to this world in the form of flesh (Hebrews 2:14). When God sent Jesus into the world, he called him “Jesus”. This was God's way with man. It is the way to save man from sin.
3. Immanuel (God is with us)
In the Old Testament, the name of the Messiah was ‘Emmanuel’. What, then, is the relationship between the name of Jesus and the name of Immanuel? God's love for human beings is a work that comes and works among them. This is understood in relation to his chosen people. God rescued the people of Israel from Egypt and showed them that He was with them through a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud in their lives in the wilderness. And he showed it through the temple. By offering sacrifices (worship) for sins in the temple, a new relationship with God was formed, and after sins were forgiven, He was with them and blessed them. God's presence has now been shown through the temple, and finally, through Jesus, the true temple (John 2:19-22), He has promised to be with His chosen people forever (Matthew 28:20). Now, the Holy Spirit has come upon those who believe in Jesus Christ and has made our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16-18). This is because God is with us in Jesus.