Immanuel (God with us)
When Joseph learned that his betrothed, Mary, was pregnant and was contemplating divorcing her, an angel appeared and said the following:
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21, ESV)
The name Jesus means 'The Lord is salvation.'
Jesus has various other titles, each of which reveals who He is.
For example, following the angel's announcement mentioned above, Matthew writes the following:
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:22-23)
To be conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, means that Jesus is the Son of God and is God Himself.
And that God has taken on the form of us humans and is 'with us.'
He is not looking down from afar, abandoning us or ignoring our suffering; He is right here beside us—is this not wonderful news?
The Gospel of Matthew concludes with the following words spoken by the resurrected Jesus before He returned to heaven, as if to echo this phrase, 'God is with us.'
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
This 'with' is not limited by time or space.
Jesus was not only with His disciples, but He is also with us today, 'always, to the end of the age.'
Therefore, when you have worries or fears, when you are overcome by anxiety, when you need help, or when you are going through unbearable pain, please remember this and call upon Immanuel, the God who never abandons us and is always 'God with us.'
“For he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5)