"Immanuel" or "Jesus"?

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 (ESV)

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name - Immanuel” (which means, God with us).    
                         -Matthew 1:21-23 (ESV)

The question is raised in connection to the birth of Christ as to what He was to be named. Upon a casual reading of the passages above it appears that it was prophesied that He is to be named “Immanuel”. However, in Matthew 1:21, 23 & 25 it indicates He was named “Jesus”. Is this a contradiction or failure to fulfill Isaiah? Not all all!

First let us understand that in the ancient world, particularly among God’s people, names had meaning and often reflected the character of the person or of events associated with one’s parents who named them. It was not unusual to have more than one name or for God to rename someone as well. For example, Abram was renamed Abraham, and Jacob was renamed Israel just to name two. The name of Israel went on to be used to refer to the entire nation of God’s people. Let’s look at some other passages that indicate what some of Jesus’ other names are:

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
                                    -Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.              -Revelation 19:13 (ESV)

There are many other passages that give names or titles for Jesus:

· Alpha & Omega
· Amen
· Bread of Life
· Chief Shepherd
· Messiah
· Son of God
· Son of the Highest
· Holy One of God
· I Am
· King of Kings
· Lamb of God
· Prince of Peace…and there are several more!

Let’s go back to Isaiah for moment. Not only do we have the passage in 7:14 & 9:6 as listed above but there are two other places in Isaiah where the term “Immanuel” occurs.

and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” -Isaiah 8:8 (ESV)

Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand,
for God is with us. -Isaiah 8:10 (ESV)

In all three passages (7:14; 8:8; 8:10) the name or term “Immanuel” is used. The emphasis in all three focuses on the presence of God among His people.

It is this theology of the name that lies behind Matthew’s use of this passage of Isaiah. By linking Jesus with the concept of Immanuel in Isaiah Matthew is making a theological statement about the mission of the Christ child in the world. Matthew is making a statement about who Jesus is, and why His birth is so momentous.

It is interesting that Jesus is never called “Immanuel” outside of this one verse in Matthew that is quoted from Isaiah 7:14. The term does not occur anywhere else in the gospels being applied to Jesus and is nowhere to be found elsewhere in the New Testament. Yet Matthew does use the concept of “God with us” in one other place.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”                  -Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

The concept of “God with us” becomes a key theological structure for the entire Gospel of Matthew since it brackets the story of Jesus at the beginning and the end. “Immanuel” like other names and titles attributed to Jesus would characterize His character and what others would say about Him as opposed to his proper personal name, “Jesus” which also tells us that He is our deliverer & savior.

COMING TO TERMS: "Trinity"

The term “Trinity” is popularly used to describe the three-fold nature of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.    Would you be surprised to learn that the term "Trinity" is nowhere to be found in the Scriptures?  Yes, it's true!  A term used so widely to explain the nature and character of God is not even used in the Scriptures.

But how are we to understand the three-fold nature of God?  Are we to think of Him as three or as one?   

Let me illustrate how we can understand God as being three-in-one.  I am a son, a father and a husband.  Does that mean I'm three different people?  Of course not!  It simply describes three natures or characteristics of myself regarding different relationships.   To my parents I act as a son showing respect and honoring them.   To my children I act as a father loving them as my own.  To my wife I strive to be an adoring and loving husband.   The relationship I have with each of these are entirely different.  Many conversations I may have with each of these can be very different also.  I have three different relationships but I'm only one person.

God also has three different relationships with us.   God the Father reminds us of His power, majesty and Holiness.   As God the Son (Jesus) He came in person to be like us to relate to us in person.  He became God in the flesh (John 1:14).  As God the Holy Spirit we have His presence within us to guide us into all truth and encourage us in our Christian life.

Is there any event recorded in the Scriptures that shows all three aspects of God's nature at the same time?  Yes!

16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”                                   -Matthew 3:16-17 (ESV)

God the Father created all things and created man to have a relationship with.  

God the Son (God in the flesh) came to personally experience life as we do.  He redeems us from our sins as the perfect, unblemished, and sinless sacrifice on our behalf so we may be restored in our relationship with God.

God the Holy Spirit lives within those who have accepted His love and the sacrifice of the Jesus Christ.  He is our spiritual conscious and guide to help us understand the Scriptures and life as God envisioned.

OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!

  

REAL WORSHIP IS...(Part Two)

REAL WORSHIP IS STEADFAST

 Abraham's entire life is one devoted to worship of the Lord.  In Genesis 21 he just finished a time of worship at Beersheba.  He was experiencing a time of prosperity, blessing and he worshiped God with thanksgiving.  Abraham worshiped the Lord in the good times and in the bad.  In chapter 22 things take a surprising turn for Abraham as God instructs him to sacrifice his son.  God's command does not make sense to him, still Abraham worships!  

It is easy to worship God when things are going very well. It may not be so easy when hard times or things we don't understand come our way.  Real worship can see beyond the difficult circumstances of the moment. Real worship sees God as worthy regardless of what difficulties may come.  Real worship sees God in control at all times even when we don't understand what is going on.  

 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."  -Romans 8:28

 It seems that many people may be looking for excuses not to worship and blame God for their circumstances. Real and authentic worship sees the hand of God in all of life and loves Him in the good times and the bad. How well have you worshiped God in the challenges you've had so far this week?

AN AUDIENCE OF ONE!

"Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!  Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!"   -Psalms 96:7-9 (ESV)

What is "worship"?   The term comes from a very old English term which actually means "that to which one ascribes worth".  Whatever one considers the most valuable is what one worships.  Unlike the pagans of Bible times who made statue idols out of wood, stone or clay modern man strives to relish in his creativity.  We tend to fashion idols out of more trendy ideas or materialistic possessions.  Some highly value profit, power, popularity, pleasure or any combination of these.  Truth be known, we are all probably guilty of ascribing the highest value to more than one item.  Going back to our definition of worship above that would make us guilty of polytheism (worship of multiple gods).  

The Lord God who created heaven and earth is a jealous God.   It is no accident that the first two of the famous ten commandments show where God stands when it comes to our worship.  As Christians we need to understand that our worship, and all that entails, is for an audience of one.  Our praise, thanksgiving, the songs we sing and how we sing them are not done to impress other people but to show the Lord our true heart of gratitude and awe for who He is and what He has done for us. 

So, what is it that you ascribe the most worth to?   What do you truly treasure above all?  In this world we are bombarded to juggle many priorities and in the midst of doing so our priorities may be out of alignment. A questions all must consider is "What is the meaning of life?"  Your answer lies where your investment of time, energy and resources may be.  I contend that if God is not in the equation then you have discounted the value of life itself.  Worldliness inherently means a investment in the temporal things that will fade away and be remembered no more.  When you truly ascribe the honor and glory due to the Lord, and worship an audience of one, you will find life.  This was your original design and will bring more meaning, purpose and fulfillment.  

Eternal will always out value temporal. Worship is a matter of the heart.  So the questions is, "Where is your heart"?