When we read the account of the birth of Jesus in Matthew 1:18-25, we find a prophetic fulfillment taken from the Old Testament book of Isaiah written well before the event. 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."
This prophetic word written by the prophet Isaiah was confirmed and repeated in Matthew 1:22-23, "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us.'"
John 14:9, Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?"
Jesus made it clear when He said to Philip, If you have seen Me you have seen God. Colossians 1:15, "He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." I Timothy 3:16, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."
The statement "God with us" means that God Himself through the incomprehensible incarnation, became a man, born of a virgin, laid in a feeding trough, in a stable designed for the habitation of animals. A most humble birth for the creator of the universe. He not only became a man, but He was a totally dependent baby. Completely dependent upon His creation to sustain Him. He subjected Himself to the helplessness of infancy.
Colossians 1:16-17, "For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."
The once all powerful creator of all things experienced hunger, cold, thirst, heat, rejection, pain, and suffering. Jesus purposefully experienced everything we have in order to identify with our weaknesses.
Hebrews 2:18, "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." Hebrews 4:15, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
If you have ever had the idea that God doesn't understand, He does.
Let's not forget whose birth we celebrate this Christmas, and remember His indescribable gift of salvation. Have a merry and meaningful Christmas.
Pastor Leo Kruger of Valley Christian Fellowship is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers' Association.
