Three Life-Changing Words: God With Us!

Matt.1:23 - Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

    Christmas means many different things to many different people; some say that it bears no real significance, that it is a great family time, just simply a cultural tradition, or maybe a time to show goodwill and kindness towards people. Others would just rather skip the whole thing and have nothing to do with it. Whatever one’s stance is toward the celebration and meaning of Christmas, the fact that the whole world takes notice of this season is a testimony to the historic reality of Jesus, the actuality of His birth and the impact and influence of those few years that He lived among us on Earth.

    The meaning and significance of Christmas is wrapped up in those three very potent and compelling words: God with us. Just think of it; the All-Powerful God chose to be with us. He came to be with us. He made the initial move toward connection with us. He reached out and touched us. God with us. He identified with us in every aspect by becoming a man. As we ponder the fact that Jesus was born into this world as a little babe, a picturesque word comes to mind: embedded.

    A journalist might be sent to a war-torn nation to cover the story closely, and in order to cover it closely and effectively, that journalist might actually live with the soldiers; eating, sleeping and walking with them into battle. He then would be present when the active fighting occurs; bullets whizzing by, explosions too close for comfort and wounded soldiers at every side. He is with the unit; he is accompanying their every move and experiencing what they are going through. We call that an embedded journalist. In a much more powerful way God literally embedded Himself into the womb of humanity. He could get no closer; the Seed of God was implanted and organically united to mankind. God with us.

    God submitted Himself to the process of gestation and birth without giving up His Heavenly identity. He became a man. God with us; Divine with human; Perfection with imperfection; Uncommon with common; Light with darkness; Strength with weakness; Hope with despair; God with us. And not only was He born as a babe but He grew as a child and developed into a man. He lived with us; He walked with us; He cried with us and He laughed with us. Jesus experienced the complete gamut of human emotions and circumstances. He knows what it is to be full of energy and He knows what it is to be exhausted. He knows what it is to be hungry and He knows what it is to enjoy a meal with friends. He was loved by many and hated by many. He was trusted and He was tested. He was believed and He was accused. He knew joy and He knew sorrow. He had friends that loved Him and then He had those same friends betray Him. He absolutely surrendered His right to defend Himself. God with us.

    Many of us will spend the next few days with family and with friends, enjoying the blessing of close relationships; food, drink, laughter, hugs. However, many will also be alone, and some who are not necessarily alone may still be lonely. Sometimes this season brings to mind what we may not have or maybe what we once had but have since lost. No matter what difficulties we may be experiencing this year, whether it is a sickness, a loss of employment, a broken marriage, or a betrayal of trust, I hope that we can be reminded of this amazing truth; Jesus is the same as He always has been. He will never change. He came to be with us and He has never left. He is with you and He is with me. He remains eternally the God who understands; the One who never leaves us nor forsakes us; He is the Embedded One: God with us!

You are His Choice

Mark 14:50 – And they all forsook him and fled.

    As we read of what transpired in the garden of Gethsemane on the night of Jesus’ betrayal, we find ourselves in a scene depicting in graphic detail the contrast between our Lord in perfectly calm poise and the disciples in frenzied panic and disarray. Many times when we think of that night, we also specifically think of Judas and we wonder how he could have betrayed the Lord. How could he have stooped that low? We might even get a little indignant and maybe somewhat self-righteous, saying proudly to ourselves, “I could never do that”. However, friends, it is important to realize that the potential to walk in the steps  of Judas lies within each of us. In fact, this verse levels the playing field and puts us all on the same ground, so to speak.

    Judas was not the only traitor that night. Regardless of their insistence that they would stay with the Lord no matter what, when the pressure was on, all of the disciples forsook Him and fled. Each one made a choice to preserve his own life. Every one of them deserted Jesus at His point of deepest need. Jesus had specifically hand-picked the disciples and I believe they represent a cross-section and composite of humanity which means that we are included in the ‘all’ that forsook Him and fled. When we forsake someone we abandon that person; we disregard what happens to them. When we flee we put ourselves and the protection of our own life ahead of another’s. We might even trample over others to ensure that we reach a place of safety.

    Even though it was a terrible thing that Jesus was forsaken that night, it had to be so. In order for the plan of God to be fulfilled, Jesus had to face complete and utter abandonment. He was abandoned so that we might be included. He was deserted so that we would never have to be. He was rejected so that we could be accepted and given complete security. He endured the suffering of the cross and the spiritual torture to save us from an horrific fate that could never be fully described. He bravely faced the harsh treatment and the ruthless punishment for you and for me. Like a shield that receives the blows protecting the one behind it, He took those blows and absorbed them courageously. He was brutally afflicted, we were mercifully exempted.

    In light of what we have read in this short article today, what should be our response? What is it that we are to learn? One lesson is that our inclusion and acceptance in the Father’s family was not our idea. It was not based on our actions or performance, which may have been good or bad; it was God’s idea. It was and still is, His will for all mankind to be blessed, happy and protected, living in His peace and security. Everything that we have from God is given as a gift and therefore it cannot be earned. It is true that we have failed and we will, no doubt, fail again but none of that determines God’s heart toward us. Recently I watched a movie in which a man described the fact that his adult children did not love him but he determined that it was not their job to love him; it was his job, as a father, to love his children. God is the ultimate and perfect Father and He will never stop loving His children. So even though we may forsake Him He will never leave us nor forsake us. Thank you Father, we accept your steadfast love. May it transform us and help others to live and bask in the light of your amazing mercy and grace!