HE IS EMMANUEL: God With Us, Not Distant From Us

As we continued our HE IS series, Jord led us into one of the most comforting and hope-filled truths about Jesus: He is Emmanuel — God with us.

Not God watching from a distance.

Not God shouting instructions from heaven.

But God stepping directly into our world, our pain, and our brokenness.

1. God With Us in Our Humanity

Isaiah’s prophecy declares a promise that would one day become a person — Emmanuel. And as Jord reminded us, the promise didn’t stay a concept; it became flesh.

Jesus entered real human life. He felt hunger, fatigue, grief, joy, pressure, and pain. Scripture tells us He was made like us in every way so that He could truly understand us — not theoretically, but personally.

Emmanuel means Jesus doesn’t just see what you’re going through — He feels it.

2. God With Us in Fear and Uncertainty

The first Christmas didn’t happen in comfort or safety. It happened in a time of political oppression, fear, instability, and uncertainty. Jesus was born into a chaotic and unpredictable world — intentionally.

Jord reminded us that Emmanuel doesn’t wait for the storm to pass. He steps right into the middle of it with us.

Whatever fear you’re carrying — about provision, family, the future, or what feels out of control — God doesn’t avoid those moments. He meets you there and brings peace that doesn’t make sense without Him.

3. God With Us in Our Brokenness

Jesus didn’t come for the polished or perfect. He came for the broken, the struggling, the ashamed, and the weary. Before Jesus even took His first steps, His mission was already clear: to save His people from their sins.

He sat with sinners.

He touched the untouchable.

He welcomed the outcast.

Jesus was never shocked by human failure — because He came knowing exactly why He was needed.

This is the heart of Emmanuel: God didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up — He came into the mess.

4. Grace Came First

One of the most powerful truths Jord shared is this:

Grace didn’t come after repentance — grace made repentance possible.

God acted first. His love was unearned, unmerited, and freely given. And because of that grace, healing, freedom, and restoration become possible.

So we don’t hide what God came to heal.

We don’t pretend our brokenness isn’t there.

We bring it honestly to Jesus — the One who is already with us.

A Final Reflection

Emmanuel isn’t just a Christmas name.

It’s a present-day reality.

God is with you — in your humanity, your fear, and your brokenness.

And that is the hope of Christmas.