Matthew 1:17-25: a reflection

17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations. 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.” 22Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.” 24Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

As Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus, he points to a name and its meaning that hold the wonder of the whole gospel. The child is to be called Immanuel, Matthew says, which is, being interpreted, God with us. In the birth of Jesus, God has come to be with his people, not distant, not remote, but with us, sharing our life, present among us. The name Immanuel captures it: God with us. The infinite God, whom the heavens cannot contain, has come near in Christ, to be God with us, dwelling among us, entering our world and our life. In Jesus, God is with us.

Notice the wonder in the name Immanuel: God with us. God did not remain far off, distant and unreachable; in the birth of Jesus, he came to be with us, God with us. The name declares the astonishing truth of the incarnation: that God has drawn near, come among us, to be with his people, sharing our life, present in our world. Not God above us only, or God against us, but God with us, near, present, among us in Christ. The infinite God has come to be Immanuel, God with us, entering our world in the birth of a child, to be with us in the midst of our life. That God should be with us is the wonder the name holds.

That is worth resting in, for in Christ, God is with us, near and present, not distant. We can feel that God is far off, distant, remote from our lives; but the name Immanuel declares that in Christ, God is with us, near, present, having come among us. God has not stayed at a distance; he has come to be with us in Christ. When you feel God is far off, remember Immanuel: God with us, near and present in Christ. Rest in the wonder of Immanuel, that in Christ God is with us, near and present, having come among us to share our life, as Matthew declares the child to be called Immanuel, God with us; for God has not remained distant but has come near in Christ, to be God with us, and in him we are never without the presence of the God who has drawn near to dwell among his people.

Lord, as Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus, he points to a name and its meaning that hold the wonder of the whole gospel. The child is to be called Immanuel, Matthew says, which is, being interpreted, God with us. In the birth of Jesus, you have come to be with your people, not distant, not remote, but with us, sharing our life, present among us. The name Immanuel captures it: God with us. You, the infinite God, whom the heavens cannot contain, have come near in Christ. Show me the wonder in the name Immanuel: God with us. You did not remain far off, distant and unreachable; in the birth of Jesus, you came to be with us. The name declares the astonishing truth of the incarnation: that you have drawn near, come among us, to be with your people, sharing our life. Not God above us only, or God against us, but God with us, near, present, among us in Christ. You, the infinite God, have come to be Immanuel, entering our world in the birth of a child, to be with us in the midst of our life. Let me rest in that, for in Christ, you are with me, near and present, not distant. I can feel that you are far off, distant, remote from my life; but the name Immanuel declares that in Christ, you are with me, near, present, having come among us. You have not stayed at a distance; you have come to be with me in Christ. When I feel you are far off, help me remember Immanuel: God with us, near and present in Christ, Lord. Help me rest in the wonder of Immanuel, that in Christ you are with me, having come among us to share our life.