And They Shall Call His Name Immanuel

Matthew 1:18-25
December 20, 2020
Abraham Hong

Sermon Script

Our Lord Jesus Christ has many names. Names in the Bible that teach us who Jesus is. Names that encourage us as we wait for Jesus’ return.

He is called Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). He is called the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5) and the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:12). He is called the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 22:13). He is called the Lord of lords and the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15). He is called the Word (John 1:1-18). He is called Christ (Matthew 1:16).

Last Sunday we considered how his name is called Jesus, for he saves his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

Today we consider how his name is called Immanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1:23). It is a joy and an honor to share with you three things about what kind of name is the name Immanuel.

First, Immanuel is a glorious name and a big picture name. It is so huge and epic. It is so historic. Think about this, Highland. God made Adam so that Adam could be with God. This is the reason for our existence. The chief end of man was and is and always will be to glorify God and enjoy him forever. That end was destroyed by sin. But Jesus came to us. He took on a human nature. He incarnated for us, he lived for us, he died for us, he rose again for us, and he ascended for us. And one day he will return for us. Why? Because the ultimate goal of our new creation in him is to have a fellowship, a communion, a covenant bond with him. Jesus saved us so that he could be with us. Jesus restored our relationship with him. And when the repentant thief asked Jesus to remember him, Jesus said these words: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” This is the big picture. This was the plan all along. This is why Jesus is called Immanuel. God with us. What a glorious and big picture name.

Dear Highland, I hope that this gospel of the name of Immanuel helps you to realize a lot of things. Your life has great purpose and meaning. You are a part of the huge and epic history of Christ. Why are you unhappy in your life? You have the greatest gift of all. You have a relationship with Jesus. Highland, you exist for this. You have Jesus, who is called Immanuel. God is with you.

Second, Immanuel is also a wondrous name and a mind-blowing name. It is so amazing and extraordinary. It is so beyond our comprehension. Think about this, Highland. Jesus is one person with two natures, a divine nature and a human nature. Jesus is God. He is the second person of the Triune God. Before his incarnation, Jesus was infinite in being and perfection. He was eternally a spirit, invisible, with neither body, parts, nor passive properties. But after his incarnation, Jesus took on a human nature. The Word became flesh. He was born of a woman as a baby. Jesus had to be human for our salvation. He had to be human because his justice required that the same human nature which has sinned should pay for sin (Heidelberg Catechism #16). And Jesus had to be divine for our salvation. He had to be divine so that by the power of his divine nature he might bear in his human nature the burden of God’s wrath, and might obtain for us, and restore to us righteousness and life (Heidelberg Catechism #17). There is no adjective in the human language that can fully capture any of this. Jesus’ human nature is not a divinized human nature. And Jesus’ divine nature is not a humanized divine nature. These two separate natures are mysteriously and gloriously united in the one person of Christ Jesus. This supersedes all science. This transcends all logic. Jesus has a real human body and a real human soul. Does that change anything for him as God? No. How then is he truly human and and yet at the same time truly omnipresent? I don’t know how that works. How can it be that he is truly all-powerful and yet at the same time truly dependent as a baby who needed to be fed by his earthly parents Joseph and Mary? We don’t know. But what we do know is that the incarnation of Jesus is amazing. He truly experienced human hunger, human thirst, human pain, human sadness, human suffering, and human death. Wow. Just thinking about it breaks the mind. This is what Jesus’ name is all about. Immanuel. God with us. What a wondrous and mind-blowing name.

Dear Highland, I hope that this gospel of the name of Immanuel helps you to grow in worship. Praise be to our Lord for his wisdom in how he saves us. Who can think of such a glorious solution as salvation through incarnation? No one but our God. Let us be deep thinkers as we ponder and remain in awe of the birth of Christ for the rest of our lives and for the rest of eternity. Let us talk about it more and more at church and among our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us go away from being foolish and slow of heart to believe who Jesus is and let our hearts burn together with passion (Luke 24). Highland, may this never grow old. You have Jesus, who is called Immanuel. God is with you.

Third and finally, Immanuel is a comforting name and a rock-solid name. It is so assuring and unambiguous. It dispels all of our greatest fears. Think about this, Highland. How is Jesus with us right now if he is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven? The answer is twofold. First, we are seated with him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). We are united with Christ now. We are spiritually there with him now. This is how Jesus is with us now. And what happens in the heavenly places is what really matters. Second, we have the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (John 14:17; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16). The Holy Spirit reminds us of our union with Christ and he helps us know that we are with Jesus and that Jesus is with us. Jesus is shepherding us now. He speaks to us as a church on the first day of the week and he cleanses us and feeds us blesses us with his word. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil. Because Jesus is with us. His rod and his staff, they comfort us (Psalm 23). He perseveres us. He sanctifies us. He intercedes for us. He loves us. What does this all mean? This all means that Jesus is with us. This is why Jesus is called Immanuel. God with us. What a comforting and rock-solid name.

Dear Highland, I hope that this gospel of the name of Immanuel helps you to have comfort in life and in death. When you are scared of something in your life, remember that Jesus is with you. He protects you with his armor (Ephesians 6). When you feel like nobody is with you, remember that Jesus is with you. Nothing can separate you from his love (Romans 8). When you are persecuted in your life, remember that Jesus is with you. Stephen saw him standing at the right hand of the Father as his enemies stoned him to death. When you are sad or depressed, remember that Jesus is with you. The Lord is your portion; great is his faithfulness (Lamentations 3). When you are evangelizing to others, remember that Jesus is with you. He is with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28). When you die, remember that Jesus is with you. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15). Highland, be comforted. You have Jesus, who is called Immanuel. God is with you.

In closing, the gospels are full of stories of Jesus being with us. Jesus ate food with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9). Jesus embraced little children, for to such belongs the kingdom of God (Mark 10). Jesus spoke to the woman at the well who had six husbands (John 4). Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today” (Luke 19). These are all true stories of Immanuel, God with us. These people saw Jesus face to face. And soon and very soon, you will see Jesus face to face as well. God will dwell with us. We will be his people and he will be with us as our God (Revelation 21). We are looking forward to this. This is going to happen soon. And when that day comes, we will fully know what it means for Jesus to be called the name Immanuel.

Soli Deo Gloria