Names of Jesus: Immanuel

"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)

Immanuel as a name for Jesus first appears in the prophecy above. The name itself means “God is with us”. This is one of the most beautiful and appropriate names for Jesus in the scriptures. In the context of the prophecy from Isaiah 7, it was an indication that, in Jesus, God would truly be with his people on earth. But what does it mean for us now? How is Jesus still our Immanuel when he’s not physically with us today?

“By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 13-15)

Through the Spirit, we are united to Christ. Our union with Christ through the Spirit is the cornerstone of the gospel. We share in everything that is Christ’s. His holiness, sonship with God the Father, belonging in the Kingdom, eternal life -- everything that is true about Jesus is true about us.

Our union with him is the truest and most beautiful thing about us. Jesus is our Immanuel even more now than he was when he lived on earth. This is what Jesus is talking about in John 16:7.

"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."

Through the Helper, the Spirit, we have a deeper connection to Jesus than if he was standing in front of us. Jesus our Immanuel is not just with us, he is within us.