Tuesday, December 6, 2005
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
THE SAVIOR'S BIRTH
In the days leading up to Christmas we hear much about the birth of Jesus. Manger scenes and Christmas cards and letters remind us of His special birth. The birth of Jesus of Nazareth was different from any other birth. And our Savior Himself was different from every other person who has ever lived. The difference was that our Savior was both True Man, and also True God. Isaiah speaks of the Human nature of our Savior saying, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son!" This is most certainly a sign that would be remembered. It was a promise of something extraordinary - miraculous! It would be nothing new for a woman to give birth to a child, but this woman would be a virgin, one who has not had relations with any man! Now that would be a miracle!
But there was also more to Jesus than just His human nature. For we know that He was also True God. Isaiah goes on to tell us more about this virgin's son, saying, "and shall call His name Immanuel." Immanuel, as Matthew tells us, means "God with us." Here the LORD was not referring to the actual name of this child who was to be born, but was referring to what He would be. He would also be True God. In Jesus, God and man were brought together in one person. God Himself would enter human life through this miracle.
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, he was told to name this baby Jesus -- because He will save His people from their sins. The name Immanuel refers to what that Child would be, namely, God with us! They shall call his name Immanuel -- God with us, God in our nature. This was fulfilled in their calling him Jesus, a Savior, for if He had not been Immanuel, God with us, He could not have been Jesus, a Savior.
Praise be to God that He did fulfill this promise that a virgin would conceive and bear a Son, who was both True Man and True God in one person. Thanks be to God for the salvation we have received through that Holy Child, our Savior Jesus Christ.
