The angel announced to the shepherds the one thing that could put all things right. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” These words broke through human history unlike anything else. What the world needed most, it received. Our sin meets God’s justice and therefore we need this savior. And yet, not everyone welcomed the news. In fact, some tried to kill it…literally. King Herod went on a murdering spree in hopes of preventing this baby from living another day. Many simply ignored the message failing to recognize the significance of the baby’s name. The name Jesus was given at his birth but Isaiah the prophet foretold of another name…
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel". Isaiah 7:14
Immanuel, meaning “God with us”. This God wasn’t content with dwelling in fiction, this God wasn’t content hanging out with angels and this God wasn’t content with bulls and goats anymore. Sin’s debt was being atoned for by a flesh and blood savior. This God wanted to dwell with you, with all of your mess, with all of your failures with all the dirtiness that is you; he wanted to be with you. Here’s the amazing thing, God loves you right where you’re at and wants to restore you from all the wrongs you’ve done. This is the unfathomable truth of Christmas: God with us!
