Matthew 1:21 “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.”
If our Lord Jesus Christ is not “Emmanuel”, “God with us”; then our worship is vain, our prayers are useless, our faith is worthless, and our hope of Eternal Life is foolish. While, in the New Testament, our Lord was never actually called by “his name Emmanuel”; our Lord certified that He is “Emmanuel” when He said, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9) and “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30). Furthermore, John plainly explained it this way, “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (I John 5:7). There is perfect union between the name “Jesus” and “Emmanuel”; for, “Jesus” means Jehovah (“God”) Is Our Salvation and “Emmanuel” means “God with us”. Thus, if He is “Jesus”, then He is necessarily “Emmanuel”. This blessed truth is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. By our God-given “faith” (Hebrews 11:1; 12:2), we know that Jesus Christ is indeed “Emmanuel”! How do we know that we have “faith”? Well, it’s somewhat like the light over my desk, we know that there is current flowing in the wiring because the light shines; without current flowing, there is no light. Similarly, we know that “God” is “with us” (“Emmanuel”) because God has given us “faith” to know it is so; but, those to whom “God” does not give “faith” cannot possibly know and rejoice in the blessed truth that “God” is “with us”. Paul explained it this way, “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.” (1 Timothy 3:16). To emphasize that indeed “God” is “with us”; Paul proclaimed, “the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me” (II Timothy 4:17)! Even now, “Emmanuel” is with us, for “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength” (Psalms 18:2), “The LORD is my shepherd” (Psalms 23:1), “The LORD is my light and my salvation” (Psalms 27:1), “The LORD is my God” (Zechariah 13:9), and “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6)!