By Dr. Robert C Crowder
Reading:
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 1:18-23 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 publick 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.
Reflection:
To King Ahaz, facing the threat of invasion and paralyzed by fear, God gave a promise that transcended the immediate crisis: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The sign pointed beyond Ahaz’s generation to the ultimate deliverance God would provide. The name Immanuel means “God with us,” not “God near us” or “God helping us.” It signifies “God dwelling among us.”
The virgin birth was not simply a miraculous sign to grab attention. It was the theological necessity by which the eternal Son of God could enter humanity without inheriting the sin nature passed down through Adam. Mary’s conception by the Holy Ghost meant that Jesus possessed full humanity through His mother and full deity as the Son of God, yet without the corruption of sin. He is the God-man, two natures in one Person, able to represent both God to man and man to God.
Matthew, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, recognized that this prophecy reached its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. When Joseph learned of Mary’s condition, the angel assured him: “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” The virgin birth stands at the very heart of Christian doctrine. The virgin birth is essential for a sinless Savior. Without the virgin birth, there is no qualified sacrifice for sin. Without the virgin birth, there is no mediator who can bridge the infinite gap between a holy God and sinful humanity.
The promise of Immanuel is a pledge that God’s presence would never abandon His people. In the old covenant, God dwelt in the tabernacle and temple. In the incarnation, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”[1] The Holy Spirit indwells every believer. And one day, we shall dwell with Him forever in the New Jerusalem, where “the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them.”[2]
Hope does not rest in favorable circumstances; it rests in a Person. No matter what season you find yourself in, whether facing threats like Ahaz, confusion like Joseph, or simply the weariness of daily life, Immanuel is near. God has not left you. He came to be with you, and He will never forsake you.
Prayer:
- Thank Jesus for being Immanuel, “God with us,” and ask Him to help you live today in the confidence of His presence.
- Pray for awareness of His nearness in every moment, especially when you feel forgotten or alone.
Consider:
Share today’s Scripture with someone who feels forgotten or alone. Send them Isaiah 7:14 or Matthew 1:23 along with a personal note reminding them that God is still “with us,” and specifically with them.
[1] John 1:14
[2] Revelation 21:3
Robert C. Crowder Ministries 
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