God With Us
Background Story: Jesus is days away from fulfilling His mission for coming to earth. Soldiers are coming to arrest Him, but before they do, Jesus prays to God.
Read John 17:1-8
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
Big Idea: Emmanuel is Still With Us.
In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet predicted Jesus’ birth and said, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The word Immanuel or Emmanuel is translated as, “God With Us.” While often quoted around Christmas time, the idea that God came to earth, took on human flesh, and dwelt among us is a life transforming concept for every day!
Because Jesus came to earth as, “God With Us”, we have these amazing truths found in John 14.
1) I can have relationship with God. Since the Garden, God has longed to dwell with us in relationship. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, the gate or access to God, we can have forgiveness of sins and walk in a personal relationship with Him.
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
2) I am never alone. Through Jesus, we can walk with God in every situation, success, failure, or pain. He walks with us and His presence surrounds us. We are not alone.
“My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23
3) I can have supernatural peace. As the waves of life roar around us, we can rest in peace knowing God is sovereign (all-knowing), good, and loves us.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” John 14:27
4) I have the Holy Spirit. God did not leave us here to do this Christian life alone. The Holy Spirit dwells within the believer giving us His presence and peace, helping us understand the Bible and give us wisdom, helping us stand against temptation, and transforming us to be more like Jesus each day.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth.” John 14:16-17
5) I have the promise of heaven. No matter what happens here…this isn’t it. This is not our final destination. There is a hope and an eternity awaiting the believer where we will live in perfect oneness with our Father. Sorrow, pain, and sin will cease. As we keep our eyes before us toward the hope of heaven, we hold less tightly to the things of this world knowing they are just temporary.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3
Jesus invades every aspect of our life and is with you in whatever struggle you are going through. You are not alone. Today, praise Him for being Emmanuel or “God With Us” in all areas of your life.
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