The Coming Kingdom: Matthew 1.18-25 (6)
Pray Psalm 23.1, 2.
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
Sing Psalm 23.1, 2.
(Gift of Love: Though I May Speak)
Because the LORD my Shepherd is I shall not want, for I am His!
He makes me lie in pastures green, He leads by waters cool, serene.
Read Matthew 1.18-25; meditate on verse 23.
How do you experience Jesus as Immanuel?
Prepare.
1. Why is Jesus called “Immanuel”?
2. In what ways is that true of Him?
Meditate.
It’s interesting to consider how the gospel of Matthew begins and ends. It starts with a genealogy that flows out of the past to Jesus, born in a manger. At the end, it envisions a “genealogy” leading into the future (“all the nations disciples”), because Jesus was going to take His place on the throne of God. It also begins with Immanuel becoming incarnate “with us”, and it ends with that same Immanuel promising to be with us always, to the end of the earth.
Immanuel. God with us. The literal rendering of the Hebrew is a bit more dramatic and should be read like this: “With us, GOD!” We who have been Christians for any length of time can easily take for granted that Jesus is God with us. With us by His incarnation. With us by His indwelling Spirit. With us by His upholding Word of power. With us as our Good Shepherd. With us forever in the age to come. With. Us. Always. GOD!
If we believed this as fully and firmly as we think we do, wouldn’t we take some time apart, throughout the day, just to enjoy Him in Whose Presence are fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16.11)? A few moments to meditate on Him, exalted in glory? To contemplating winking at us through some aspect of creation? To sing a psalm or hymn to Him? To seek Him in His Word?
Let’s not miss out on the joy of our salvation. Know Jesus with you always. Acknowledge His Presence. Rest in His shepherding care. Follow wherever He leads without fear. Rejoice in His daily provision. And give Him thanks that, by His Presence with us, we will know fullness of joy and holy pleasures forever. Call Jesus Immanuel from time to time, just to remember the great privilege of having Him with you always.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“And the Word became 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” (Jn. 1.14).
Omnipotent—all powerful, having all authority, Almighty.
Omnipresent—present everywhere simultaneously.
Omniscient—infinitely knowing all things and wise.
This describes our God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Being all these things in heaven and on earth.
He is all in all.
“For I AM GOD, and there is none like Me,
declaring the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying,
‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’…” (Is. 46.9, 10).
“Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your Presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me, and
Your right hand shall hold me” (Ps. 139.7-10).
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?
Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things,
to Whom be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11.33-35).
Immanuel. God with us. JESUS.
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is LORD of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
Is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
That sleeping Child you’re holding
Is the great, I AM.
(Mark Lowry, 1985)
Reflect.
1. How can knowing Jesus is Immanuel help you in encouraging other believers?
2. How can knowing this make you a more confident witness for Jesus?
3. What can you do to keep more continuously in mind the fact that Jesus is with you always?
Therefore to say “they shall call him ‘Emmanuel’ ” means nothing else than that they shall see God among us. Admittedly God has always been among us, but never before so openly. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 5.2-3
Pray Psalm 23.3-6.
Give thanks to Jesus, Who is with us now and will be forever. Ask Him to make His Presence and strength known to you this day for all the work that lies ahead.
Sing Psalm 23.3-6.
(Gift of Love: Though I May Speak)
My soul He quickens and will bless; He leads in paths of righteousness.
Though I may walk in death’s dark vale, I shall not fear—He will not fail!
The LORD is ever by my side; His rod and staff with me abide.
A table rich for me He spreads; with oil my LORD anoints my head.
Goodness and mercy, full and free, shall ever after follow me,
and in the house of God, my LORD, shall I abide forevermore!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast pushes on through our readings from Joy to Your World!. Our Crosfigell teaching letter continues its brief series on the early 6th-century Irish saint, Coemgen. The ReVision column finishes the study of Kingdom values and turns to consider how to grow the divine economy. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
