Christmas represents one of the most significant events in human history

—when God came into our world in the form of His Son, Jesus.

Immanuel
God with us
The Gospel of Matthew says that Jesus’ birth “took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the
prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which
means, God with us).”1 Jesus’ conception was like no other before or after.

Mary received a visit from And the Lord God will

an angel who announced Behold, you will conceive
and bear a son who will be
great and will be called the
Son of the Most High.
give to him the throne of
his father David, and he
will reign over the house
of Jacob forever, and
of his kingdom there will
be no end.2

“The Holy Spirit will come upon therefore the child

“How will to be born will be
you, and the power of the Most
this be?”3 called holy—the Son
High will overshadow you;
of God.”4

“I am the servant of the

Lord; let it be to me
according to your word.”5

Nine months later, the unique person who was both God and man was born—Immanuel,
“God with us.”
 Some of the manifestations of “God with us” were
seen through Jesus’ actions, such as: 
u Compassion through u Care and provision for the poor
healing those who were sick.6 and hungry, manifested by feeding
the crowds of 5,0007 and 4,000.8

“I will;
be
clean.”

“It is I.
Do not be
afraid.”

u Power over nature as

He walked on water and
commanded the wind and
storm to cease.9

u Power over death— a twelve-year-old girl,11 and His friend Lazarus

raising the only son of from the dead.12
a widow,10

“Lazarus,
come out!”
 u Love by His willingness to be hung on the cross to die so that
u Mercy we could have eternal relationship with God.14
by forgiving
sins.13

“Jesus, remember
“Your me when you
sins are come into your
forgiven.” kingdom.” 

“Truly, I say to
you, today you
will be with me in
paradise.”15

At Christmas, and every other day of the year, all of us within whom the Spirit of
God dwells are in a sense an extension of “God with us” in our community—
to our friends and neighbors,
our coworkers,

Kind people
who moved in
next door.

Hey, they just

invited us to a
Aye! And their huge Christmas
children are celebration!
polite.

the people who serve us in shops

and strangers
and restaurants,
whom the Lord
...and they’re always so brings across
respectful to us. our paths.
Whoa!
They gave
me ten
euros!
 Others can sense something uncommon and special in us, and when
we explain that God is with us and can be with them as well, we help
to fulfill the ultimate reason of Christmas.

Come on in, Mr. The love we show through our

O’Hara. Happy interactions with others,
Christmas!

the words we speak

and actions we take,

the kindness and

generosity we show,

the helping hand we offer,

reflect the Holy Spirit
dwelling within us.

Christmas is the celebration of “God with us,” the birth of His Son, who lived and
died in order to make it possible for us to come into relationship with God and for
the Spirit of God to dwell within us. What a joyful reason to celebrate!

Footnotes:
1
Matthew 1:22–23. All scriptures are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
2
Luke 1:31–33
3
Luke 1:34
4
Luke 1:35
5
Luke 1:38
6
See Matthew 8:1–4, 14–15, 9:27–33, 12:22–23, 17:15–18, 20:30–34, 21:14; Mark 1:30–31, 7:32–37, 8:22–25, 9:25–27, 10:46–52; Luke 4:33–35,
8:27–35, 9:38–42, 14:1–4, 18:35–43; and John 4:46–53, 9:1–7.
7
See Matthew 14:14–21.
8
See Matthew 15:32–38.
9
See Matthew 14:22–33.
10
See Luke 7:11–16.
11
See Mark 5:22–23, 35–43.
12
See John 11:1–44.
13
See Matthew 9:2–8.
14
See Colossians 1:19–22, 2:13–14 and Ephesians 2:13–19.
15
Luke 23:43–44
S&S link: Christian Life and Faith: Witnessing and Missionary Training: Preaching the Gospel-2d
This article is excerpted from “Immanuel.” Directors’ Corner. December 8, 2015.
Authored by Peter Amsterdam. Illustrated by Jeremy. Designed by Roy Evans.
Published by My Wonder Studio. Copyright © 2020 by The Family International