Throughout ancient human history, heaven was God’s
dwelling place, and except for a few personal encounters
(as with Abraham, Hagar, and Jacob), He seemed far away to
most people. Then He came to be in the Israelites’ midst,
first in a pillar of cloud and fire, then in the
tabernacle and temple. But now, He was about to do
something totally new. His presence would be with them in
the form of God’s Son, a man who’d literally live among
them.
Even before Jesus was born on earth, He was given two
names, which both indicated His identity and ministry.
Immanuel tells us who He is—“God with us.” Christ took on
human flesh while retaining undiminished deity and became
the perfect God-Man. He lived on earth, walked among men,
and suffered the weaknesses of humanity. Yet He also
displayed the power of Almighty God as He healed the sick,
cast out demons, calmed the sea, and raised the dead.
Jesus means “The Lord is salvation,” which describes
what He came to do—to save us from the bondage of sin
through His death on our behalf. This explains why He had
to become Immanuel. Since the Father is immortal and
cannot die, His Son had to take on a human body in order
to offer Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for the
sins of mankind.
But what do these two names of Christ mean for you
today? Through the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit,
Jesus still lives with you and has the power to deliver
you from the grip of any bondage. No sinful habit, painful
past, or present struggle is too difficult for the God-Man
to overcome.