Emmanuel

"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." (Matthew 1: 23)

The Lord Jesus Christ has many names and titles, all expressive of his person. He is truly unique. There has never been a person like Jesus. He was no mere man. He was both Son of God and Son of Man, both human and divine.

Jesus demonstrated and revealed these two distinct natures in his life. The gospels show his physical weaknesses, and are proofs of his humanity, of his non-divinity.

Jesus went to sleep, yet God does not sleep. He got hungry, yet God does not get hungry. He got tired, but God does not get tired. Thus, these are proofs of Christ's humanity. The Lord Jesus Christ too was "crucified through weakness." (II Corinthians 13: 4)

Yet, we greatly err to view him merely as a human being, as a man only. The Lord Jesus Christ is also God; hence, his name "Emmanuel."

Notice these verses that testify to the deity of the Lord Jesus.

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2: 9)

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3: 16)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men...And the Word was made 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." (John 1: 1-5, 14)

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." (I John 5: 7)

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God." (Revelation 19: 11-13)

Can there be any doubt then about his divinity? Yes, the first disciples and apostles did not at first recognize the deity and divinity of Christ, especially "doubting Thomas." Yet, later we discover this same "doubting Thomas" having all doubts removed.

"And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God." (John 20: 28)

The truth of holy scripture is that the Lord Jesus Christ, is both God and man united in one person. Scripture does not teach that God transformed into a man, so that he was no longer what he was before this transformation, that is, no longer God.

The "great mystery" of this matter concerns the union of these two natures in one person, not the metaphyscial changing of divinity into humanity, which is not possible. God does not "change." (Malachi 3: 6). Yet, if God transformed into a man, such a statement would be false.

The doctrine of the "Incarnation" of the Word, of the Son of God, is that God "dwelled in" a human body. God "tabernacled" in flesh.

Thus, Jesus, the Savior of sinners, is no ordinary man. This is why Christians worship Christ; not because he is a man, for this would be idolatry. But, rather, because he is not only man, but God.

It is necessary that men understand both the person and the work of Christ if they are to be saved. Wrote Paul to the Corinthian Church:

"I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (I Corinthians 2: 2)

Both the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ are declared clearly in the preaching of the gospel. To receive the gospel message is to accept what the Bible says about the work and person of the Messiah.

Friend, have you believed in the Lord Messiah? Do you accept the good news of his work and person? Or, have you, as others, "made light of it"? (See Matthew 22: 5)