IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US

            There are three little blond curly heads in our church—Gideon, Peter, and Silas. There is no question that they are brothers—they look very much alike.  And there is no question what family they come from!  Grandma Joy has the same curly blond hair.  They are definitely from the Dilts family.

            I have five children, three boys and two girls.  I like to try to analyze their characteristics and figure out how that came down the family line.  The girls look alike in several ways (maybe from me?).  People often comment on their smiles  (surely from me!).  Stephen got his love of music from me and his grandmother.  Andrew has his great-grandfather’s large hands.  John got his ability to troubleshoot and problem solve from his father.  I have two grandchildren.  Though Mikaela is adopted, I find myself saying, “Oh, she looks just like . . . .”

            I love singing in the cantata each year.  Even the practices are a time of worship for me.  This year I heard Beth sing Mary’s song, and one line jumped out to me in bold.   “Can you see the Father in the Son?”  I have been pondering this line since we began rehearsing.  I can look at my children and where they got their characteristics. . . but when I think of Jesus. . . .Yes, I can see the Father in the Son because Jesus is God Incarnate.  Jesus is God.

            John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Verse 14 says, “And the Word (Jesus) became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

            John 10:30 says, “I and the Father are one.”  Now we’re getting into the topic of the Trinity and I tell you I cannot explain it.  I have never heard an explanation of the Trinity that satisfied me.  But I don’t have to understand.  My understanding does not change the truth of the statements about the Trinity.  But I believe it and accept it because I believe God’s Word.  So Jesus and the Father are one.

            One of the verses quoted often during the Christmas season is Isaiah 9:6:  “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest upon His shoulders; and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”  This child would be the Mighty God. 

            Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a Son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”  Immanuel—God with us.  That babe in the manger was God.  We know that.  We even sing about it.  But is it amazing, awe-inspiring, too wonderful for words to us?

            “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see.

              Hail the incarnate Deity.

              Pleased as man with men to dwell,

              Jesus, our Immanuel.” 

(Hark the Herald Angels Sing)

           

“God with man is now residing,

  Jesus, our Immanuel.”

            (Angels from the Realms of Glory)

“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.”

            (O Come, All Ye Faithful)

            O God!  O Immanuel, God with us!  God Himself came to dwell with us.  Can you see the Father in the Son? 

IMMANUEL!  GOD WITH US!

~~Faith Himes Lamb