Immanuel with us

“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:4-5

There is an old analogy that goes as follows: Imagine a room with no windows or outside light coming in. In the middle of that room there is a thick curtain that, when drawn, allows no light through it. On one side, it is completely dark to the point where one cannot even see their own hand in front of their face. The other side is fully illuminated by the light of a bright candle. When the curtain is pulled back, what happens? Does the total darkness overcome the light, or.....?

People think of light in number of different ways. Some think about it in its physical properties: energy, wave, particle, etc. Others see it in terms of new learning or understanding, hence “to be enlightened.” Still others will think of it in a myriad of other ways: a guide-point, inspiration, warmth, even life for a buried seed, etc. And there is another, more basic and somewhat universal understanding, especially when contrasted with its absence: good and evil, love and hate, life and death.

In John’s Gospel, the Light is the love of God come to us in the personage of Jesus Christ Himself. Any parent will tell you that the birth of their child was like experiencing a miracle. Truthfully, it is. The birth of Christ Jesus was this as well but so very much more.

His very name, Jesus, means “God Saves,” and Christ is the Greek transliteration for “The Anointed One.” But even more pertinent is His appellation Immanuel “God With Us.”

In our society today, especially in the last two years, there has been much turmoil, confusion, contention and division....darkness. The effects are sadly ongoing, leaving many bereft and seeking.

Soon we will be celebrating Christmas, the birth of our Lord. Now more than ever, God would have us to know what that truly means for us all. It is far more than presents or even just a “holiday.” It is the coming of Our Saviour, God’s only Son, who came down from heaven to save us. Amidst all of the aforementioned darkness, there is not only peace, but hope...true hope in our Immanuel who tells us: “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Mt 7:7 He speaks here not only of true hope but the ultimate gift of eternal salvation, which He paid for with His life to offer to all. This why He came to us, and this is why we celebrate Christmas. 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17