In a world which is trying to deny that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is still alive among us, we would do well to remember His Name "Emmanuel" - which, when translated, means "God with us" (Matt.1:23).
After Jesus' resurrection, He sent His Spirit to live within and among His followers as He had previously promised (John 14:26). His action fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy that His name was to be "Emmanuel" (Isa.7:14).
According to Jesus' beloved disciple John, Jesus Christ is "the true God" (I John 5:20) who became flesh (John 1:14). God came to earth as the "Son of Man" (Mark 2:28) to prove that He was the "Son of God" (John 1:34). He told Joseph that Mary's baby was to be named "Jesus" (the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua which means Saviour)" (Matt.1:21).
Jesus came as our Saviour (Luke 2:11) to save us from our sins. He was born to a virgin to show that God Himself was His true Father.
Jesus was the prophecied "Light from on high...to shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace" (Luke 1:18-19 Amp.V). Jesus Christ is truly a Light in our dark world, and its only hope for peace.
Although "God sent forth the Spirit of His Son" (Gal.4:6), sinful man continues to reject Him, and therefore cannot understand the true meaning of His Name, `Emmanuel--God with us.' Many prefer to believe, instead, that He is some New Age `Force' rather than a personal Saviour.
Only when all people in all the world accept Jesus Christ as `Emmanuel' can peace come to earth as promised by the angels that night in Bethlehem. Union of world religions and union of world political systems cannot usher in the reign of Emmanuel because such a union is based on fear of one another. Only those who have accepted `Emmanuel' as their personal Saviour will find external peace as well as internal peace.
"Peace among men" (Luke 2:14) was ushered in the night Jesus was born, but will be firmly established only when He returns with His raptured saints to rule the world (Rev.21:2-3). Then everyone will recognize the Lord Jesus Christ as `Emmanuel - God with us.'
© 1999, Doreen Palmer