Sermon Snippet –The One Person That You Must Know
INTRODUCTION – Matthew 1:18-25 provides the key elements of the Christian faith, including the fulfillment of prophecy (a crucial, compelling reason to believe), the Virgin Birth of Jesus (an essential theological tenet, for a mere man with a sin nature cannot save us from our sins), and the precise mission of Jesus (“for He shall save His people from their sins” – verse 21) – a mission which directs us to the Cross. We are further blessed to learn that Jesus, God the Son, is “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us” (verse 23). This designation is more of a description than an actual name, and it is one of great comfort.
1. GOD IS WITH US IN THE LARGEST WAY POSSIBLE
Colossians 1:17 says of Jesus that “He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” In other words, Jesus holds all things together. His might keeps the entire universe from collapsing. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1): the special star that accompanied Jesus’ birth is just one example of an unlimited number. Even before we become believers, God is holding things together and drawing us to Him.
2.GOD IS WITH US IN THE SMALLEST MOST SPECIFIC WAY POSSIBLE
Jesus physically walked this earth with mankind. John 1:14 states of Jesus that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Jesus “dwelt” with us; literally, He “tabernacled” with us – that is, He “pitched His tent” among us. The use of the Old Testament imagery of the Tabernacle (the movable place of worship for the Jewish people) invests His personal presence here with the spiritual purpose of this Incarnation. The angelic message to the shepherds includes the following theological statement: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, [Who] is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). A baby – a very real, small baby – was born as God Himself entered our historical time and space, but this baby was and is the “Saviour.” To speak of Jesus and not rejoice in Him as Savior is to reject the “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10).
3. GOD IS WITH US IN THE WIDEST WAY POSSIBLE
When Jesus closed His earthly ministry, He promised, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world [age]” (Matthew 28:20b). No matter how menial or mundane our daily activities may be, Jesus is right alongside us. “He hath said, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ So that we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper’” (Hebrews 13:5c-6a). Moment by moment, He is with us, wherever we go in this wide and wild world of wickedness and woe. His presence is profoundly personal.
4. GOD IS WITH US IN THE GREATEST WAY POSSIBLE
In Revelation 21:3, John records, “I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.’” Eternally, we will be with Jesus and He will be with us – if we simply place our trust in Him as Savior.
CONCLUSION – Jesus certainly provides a fullness of fulfillment to the designation “Emmanuel.” May we each welcome Him to be with us, and may we celebrate His unfailing and everlasting presence with us. He is the One Person Whom we all must know.