Sunday, December 1, 2013

Hi Brian!

Wow, what a game! The word for this week is "Emmanuel". It's found only once, in the New Testament, in Matthew 1:23:

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. KJV

This Greek word is "Emmanouel" and, as the verse says, it means "God with us", according to Strong's Concordance. The Exegetical Dictionary NT adds that this is a transliteration (the spelling of a word in one language with the alphabet of another language) of the Hebrew word "Immanu 'el", which means the same thing. Isaiah 7:14 says this:

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. KJV

It was important that Jesus be born of a virgin with God as His Father so that He could be 100% God and 100% sinless man at the same time! As the bloodline always passed through the father, His had to be God! The perfect mediator between both (1 Timothy 2:5)! John 1:1-14 declares it clearly:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made 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. KJV

He came to live AMONG us so that He could give His life FOR us and then, by His Spirit, live IN us! This Christmas song, by Hillsong, should mean so much more in the light of what God has done for us in Jesus! It's called, of course, "Emmanuel"!



Love and Shalom from the Swoveys