Immanuel Isaiah 7:10-14 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:18-23 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of

the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: ”The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” which means, “God with us.”

What does Immanuel mean? To Isaiah? Divine hope God’s grace God’s faithfulness in the midst of man’s failure.

Isaiah 9:6 ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God.’

To Matthew? Matthew 1:23 ‘Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.’

Matthew 4:16 ‘The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’’

That is what Immanuel meant to Matthew It was a beam of light into the darkness and Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, Immanuel, God with us would be the Light of the World.

To us John 1:14   The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What does Immanuel mean to us today? Colossians 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. What does Immanuel mean to us today?

‘God with us’ brings us that hope! Immanuel ‘God with us’ brings us that hope! Hope for our salvation Hope for our future Hope for our world