Immanuel, God With Us
(A Bible study)
Chuck Sligh
December 29, 2013
TEXTS:
Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL.”
Matthew 1:18-25 – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL, WHICH BEING INTERPRETED IS, GOD WITH US. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
INTRODUCTION
Note the name “Immanuel” mentioned at the end of both Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. Immanuel means “God with us,” as Matthew explains. It was prophesied concerning the coming Messiah in Isaiah 7:14, the first scripture we just read, and it was fulfilled in Jesus, the true Messiah, here in Matthew 1:23. The name Immanuel (“God with us”) was also fulfilled in the very NAME of Jesus, which means “Savior.”If He had not been Immanuel (“God with us”), He could not have been Jesus (“Savior”). Let’s dissect the meaning of this name Immanuel.
I. “GOD” - TELLS US OF HIS PERSON.
The term “the Person of Jesus” is a theological term which means the identity of Jesus as both God and man; i.e., the teaching of the incarnation. No one denies the humanity of Jesus, but it’s important to understand that Jesus was also GOD!
How do we know? Let’s look at five unique facts about Jesus that prove His deity:
• Fulfilled prophecies prove His deity.
There are over 61 major Old Testament prophecies, and 600 total Old Testament prophecies, were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Canon Lidden, an authority on the Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus, says there are 332 distinct predictions which were literally fulfilled in Christ.”
As you can see, there is some disagreement on the exact number of prophecies concerning Jesus, but one thing they all agree on is that there are a LOT of them. And that fact is one of the greatest proofs of Christianity, as we’ll see in a few moments.
Let’s first look at some examples of the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, and then we’ll examine the statistical probability of them happening by mere chance (SEE GROUP ACTIVITY AT THE END IN WHICH CLASS MEMBERS READ EACH BELOW):
1) Concerning His birth there were numerous prophecies, including:
That He would be born of a virgin.
That He would be in the line of David.
That He would be born in Bethlehem.
That Herod would kill the babies.
That Jesus would be preceded by a messenger—John the Baptist.
2) Concerning His earthly ministry, there werew a number of prophecies, including:
That His ministry would begin to Galilee.
That He would perform miracles.
That He would teach in parables.
3) Preceding His crucifixion, there were several prophecies about Him, including:
That He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey.
That He would sacrifice His life to save sinners from sin.
4) Concerning His death on the cross, there are numerous prophecies that were fulfilled, such as:
That He would betrayed by a friend.
That He would be sold for thirty pieces of silver.
That He would be forsaken by His disciples.
That He would be accused by false witnesses.
That His death would be by crucifixion.
That He would be wounded and bruised, smitten and spat upon and mocked.
That His hands and feet would be pierced.
That His garments would be parted and lots cast for them.
That gall and vinegar would be offered Him.
And that his bones would not be broken.
5) Concerning prophecies after His death, there were prophecies, including:
That He would rise from the dead.
That He would ascend into heaven.
That’s a lot of fulfilled prophecy! Now what is the statistical probability that all these prophecies could have been happened to a single person by mere chance.
Dr. Peter Stoner, in his book Science Speaks, did some calculations in mathematical probabilities relating to the Bible. He states that the mathematical probability of JUST EIGHT of these prophecies being fulfilled in one person by chance is 1 in 1017, which is 1 in 1.7 sextillion or 1,700,000,000,000,000,000
That’s a 17 followed by 17 zeroes! (as you can see on the little sheet of paper with that number on it that I have each of you.)
To illustrate how remote this possibility is, he gives an illustration to help us conceive what 1 in 1017 is: If you cover the state of Texas with silver dollars two feet deep and mark only one of those silver dollars, and then blindfold a man—the chances of him finding the marked silver dollar the first time blindfolded is 1 in 1017!
And that is the probability of just EIGHT prophecies being fulfilled in one person. And there were at least 332, and possibly as many as 600 prophecies, made concerning the Messiah which were fulfilled by Jesus and 61 major, clear-cut, unquestionable prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
All of these give ample proof of the New Testament claim of the deity of Christ.
• His virgin birth proves His deity
Matthew 1:23 – “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Compare verse 16 – “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” (Matthew 1:16)
The phrase “of whom” is the feminine singular in the Greek, indicating HE WAS BORN OF MARY, NOT JOSEPH.
Matthew 1:18 – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
• His sinless life proves His deity
Hebrews 4:15 – “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
1 Peter 1:19 – “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
1 Peter 2:22 – “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.”
2 Corinthians. 5:21 – “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
• His triumphant resurrection proves His deity
Jesus Christ is the only person in history who predicted His own death and resurrection and then actually rose Himself from the dead as he predicted. Only God, the giver of life, could do such a thing.
• His powerful influence on individual lives proves His deity – 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” So we see that the word “God” in this phrase tells us of Jesus’s PERSON.
II. THE SECOND WORD, “WITH” TELLS US OF HIS PRESENCE.
Not only God “over us” as Sovereign Lord, although He is certainly that. Not only God “for us” as Gracious Lord, although He has shone that He is that time and time again. Not only God “in us” as Living Lord. But God “with us.”…
• He is with us to save us – He had to become a man to pay man’s penalty for sin.
• Jesus is with us to help us know He understands us.
Illus. – of man in 1950s who wanted to find out first-hand what it was like to be a black man and face discrimination and bigotry. So he tinted his skin color and dyed and changed his hair to look like that of a black man’s. He wrote a book of his experiences of discrimination.
Jesus did something similar for us – Hebrews 4:15 – “For we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are...”
• Jesus is with us on earth through His teachings.
In the Gospels we have three years of teaching that is unparalleled in breadth and depth. Jesus’ teaching was the wisdom of very God Himself, for He WAS God.
Even as a twelve year old boy, he confounded the most brilliant men of His day with His wisdom in the Temple. As he began His ministry, He was able to attract men because He spoke as one who had authority—the authority of very God Himself. Throughout the rest of His earthly ministry His teachings were lofty, unique—different from any other man’s in history, because they were from very God.
In his book, More Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell says,
Statistically speaking, the Gospels are the greatest literature ever written. They are read by more people, quoted by more authors, translated into more tongues, represented in more art, set to more music, than any other book or books written by any man in any century in any land. (p. 320) The influence of Jesus on mankind is today as strong as it was when He dwelt among men. The ministry of Jesus lasted only three years and yet in those three years is condensed the deepest meaning of the history of religion. No great life ever passed so swiftly, so quietly, so humbly, so far removed from the noise and commotion of the world; and no great life after its close excited such universal and lasting interest. (p. 321)
Henry G. Bosch wrote:
Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures; yet, some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him.
Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratories they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.
• Jesus is with us spiritually until the end of the age in the person of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 – Among the very last words Jesus said on earth before ascending to heaven to be on the right hand of God, He said, “Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
How could He be in heaven and yet be with us at the same time—by sending His Holy Spirit to be with us by indwelling us.
Note John 14:16 – “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”
Note the word “another.” There were two words in Greek meaning another: “Another of a different kind” and “another of the same kind.” Jesus used the latter word, meaning that the Comforter would be JUST LIKE HIM. It was like having Him here Himself.
So far we’ve seen that the word “GOD” tells us of His PERSON; “with” tells us of His PERSENCE.
III. THE THIRD WORD “US”, TELLS US OF HIS PURPOSE
His Purpose was simply this: To save sinners.
• HIS NAME tells us of this purpose:
Note Matthew 1:21 – “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Jesus is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name “Yeshua,” or “Joshua.” It literally means “Jehovah is salvation,” or simply “Savior.” That explains the second phrase in Matthew 1:21 – “…for He shall save His people from their sins.”
• The ANGEL told the Shepherds of this purpose – Luke 2:10-11 – “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David A SAVIOR, which is Christ the Lord.”
• JOHN THE BAPTIST told the multitudes of this purpose – John 1:29 – “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.”
• JESUS HIMSELF told us of His purpose – He said to Zacchaeus in Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of man IS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.”
• THE APOSTLE PAUL told young Timothy of this purpose – 1 Timothy 1:15 – “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.”
• THE PURPOSE FOR JESUS COMING – TO SAVE YOU (Romans 3:23) (EXPAND GOSPEL APPLICATION)
CONCLUSION
Someone anonymous once poignantly said something very profound about Jesus: “I am far within the mark when I say that all armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of mankind on this earth as powerfully as that One Solitary Life”. (Massey Mott Heltzel. The Invincible Christ. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1952, p. 10).
C.S. Lewis observed, “You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to” (Mere Christianity [Macmillan, 1952], pp. 40-41)
Michael Green, in his book “Man Alive” says, “Jesus made the most shattering claims in the course of His teaching. There is no parallel to them in any of the world’s religions. And it simply will not do to neglect them, as is commonly done by agnostic writers. Yet, if you account them as part of the authentic record about Jesus that has come down to us, then at once, the cozy picture of Jesus as merely a good man and a great teacher disintegrates.”
A.
ACTIVITY:
Cut strips of the five major sections below and pass them out. At the appropriate time, have those with a strip of prophecies to read them:
• Concerning His birth there were numerous prophecies, including:
That He would be born of a virgin.
That He would be in the line of David.
That He would be born in Bethlehem.
That Herod would kill the babies.
That Jesus would be preceded by a messenger—John the Baptist.
• Concerning His earthly ministry, there werew a number of prophecies, including:
That His ministry would begin to Galilee.
That He would perform miracles.
That He would teach in parables.
• Preceding His crucifixion, there were several prophecies about Him, including:
That He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey.
That He would sacrifice His life to save sinners from sin.
• Concerning His death on the cross, there are numerous prophecies that were fulfilled, such as:
That He would betrayed by a friend.
That He would be sold for thirty pieces of silver.
That He would be forsaken by His disciples.
That He would be accused by false witnesses.
That His death would be by crucifixion.
That He would be wounded and bruised, smitten and spat upon and mocked.
That His hands and feet would be pierced.
That His garments would be parted and lots cast for them.
That gall and vinegar would be offered Him.
And that his bones would not be broken.
• Concerning prophecies after His death, there were prophecies, including:
That He would rise from the dead.
That He would ascend into heaven.
