The Emmanuel Project

A Message by Pastor Mark Jordan

Immanuel is Greek spelling of Emmanuel, which is from Hebrew, both meaning God With Us

God With Us

• Matthew 1:12-21 (NIV) | ¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ 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. ²¹ 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.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
• Note: we first read about Emmanuel from Isaiah 7:14.
  • The name Immanuel means God would establish His guiding and protecting presence with His people in their deliverance.
  • This was 700 years before Jesus’ birth!
• Jesus from Yeshua, meaning God saves

God In Us

• Galatians 2:20 (NLT) | I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
• St. Augustine quote, “A Christian is: a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps.”

God For Us

• Romans 8:31b-32 (NIV) | If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

God With Us Still

• Matthew 28:20b (NLT) | be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Reflection Questions

1. What is the meaning of the name, Emmanuel?
2. Why do you think this was important for the people to hear? Especially those prior to Jesus’ earthly ministry?
3. How have you experienced “Emmanuel” in your own life?
4. God wants you to live for Him. Why is God In Us so unique?
5. We read that God is for us. What implications does this have for us? Even, and especially, when we face difficulties of all kinds?