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

It is just over seven-hundred years before God was manifested in the flesh; Seven centuries before that babe was born in Bethlehem. Such a long time before that glorious moment when the angels would praise God and say, ''Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men!''

Isaiah is sent to king Ahaz to comfert him and to encourage him concerning the two armies from the north that were coming to conquer Jerusalem. God Himself was going to defend His holy city. God was willing to have Ahaz seek a sign to see if it was so- that God would indeed protect and defend Jerusalem. Ahaz refused to seek a sign from God concerning this matter. So God himself stepped forward and offered a sign anyway. It came in the form of a prophecy that would be fulfilled many years after the time of Ahaz.

A ''virgin shall conceive and bear a Son''.

Nothing is impossible for God. He calls light to shine out of darkness. Yes, The Almighty, in his infinite wisdom, can devise a plan of salvation so awesome, that even the angels desire to look into it. A thrice Holy God providing salvation for a sinfull and rebellious human race that would rather stick its collective fist in His face, rather than submit in obedience to Him.

What kind of a sacrifice would it take to satisfy the righteous demands of a Holy God Who would say, ''It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul'' or ''Without shedding of blood there is no remission''.

Animal sacrifices could not do it, for it is written, ''It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.''

But, God is just. Sin MUST be dealt with. There is no sin too small. All have sinned. The whole world is guilty before God.

Ah, but the God Who once told ancient Israel ''Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though They are red like crimson, They shall be as wool''; He would have the answer...

''They shall call His name Immanuel'' which is translated, ''God with us''.

Our Savior Immanuel is God, God the Son. ''For in Him, dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily'' And ''In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.''

Who could comprehend the depth and the width of the Wisdom of God in sending His Son to die for the sins of man. What other way could there have been? No other sacrifice would do. No other sacrifice COULD do.

Behold the love of God!

There He is, in His virgin mother's arms. God has partaken of flesh and blood... ''For the suffering of death... That He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.'' Hebrews 2:9

''...The church of God which He purchased with His own blood.'' Acts 20:28

There He is, the Perfect and sinless Son of God... Immanuel, God with us.

God Himself would pay the penalty for the sins of a lost and helpless human race. What a Glorious and Wise God. God is LOVE!

Dear reader, do you know the love of God that can only be found in His Son Jesus Christ?