If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words,
these would be the words: ‘God with us.’
John F. MacArthur
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Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 1:23 KJV
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Our God is here, Emmanuel, among us, always coming towards us,
always standing behind us, always standing up for us,
always standing with us in solidarity in communion
asking us to come with Him now as disciple, as follower,
as believer, as a friend, as intimate beloved child of God,
now and forever.
Megan McKenna
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And be sure of this: I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20b NLT
***
When Matthew has the angel tell Joseph
that the child to be born will be “Emmanuel,” “God with us,”
and then finishes his gospel with Jesus himself telling his followers
that he will be “with them always,”
alert readers know that the entire story ought to be read with this in mind.
N.T. Wright