Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14
Christmas is just a week away. You are probably hearing carols and hymns, including traditional ones like “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” As you sing it, you raise your voice and recite, “Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.” Are you listening to what you are singing? You are declaring that something unusual, important, and significant is happening. The word “behold,” according to theologian Charles H. Spurgeon, is “a word of wonder, it is intended to excite admiration.” He states that old books of the Puritans would say, “Behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect, ‘Look up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!’”
“Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; hail the incarnate deity.” The angel Gabriel had already told Mary that she would have a son who “will be called the Son of the Highest… and he will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:32, 35). Gabriel also confirmed this to Joseph, quoting the words of Isaiah, for this child would fulfill prophecy (Matthew 1:22-23, 2:23), reminding him that Immanuel means “God with us.”
“Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel.” John began his Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory of the only Son from the father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14). Jesus would later confirm His deity, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:48-59).
Preacher and author Dr. Rod Mattoon wrote, “No one else could meet the qualifications of this statement, ‘God with us.’ Jesus Christ was God’s love, holiness, and heart wrapped in human flesh. He was God walking in sandals upon this earth.” Let your imagination take you to the shepherds’ hillside and journey with them to Bethlehem where you see this Immanuel. Then with those shepherds, praise the Lord for sending Jesus to be God with us, and join in raising your voice in song, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Today’s Verse: Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Luke 1:26-35
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
