JESUS OUR IMMANUEL

[GildartsTale]

JESUS OUR IMMANUEL
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“Immanuel” (or “Emmanuel”) literally means “God is with us.” Kapag kapaskuhan, madalas nating mabasa o marinig ang title na ito na ginagamit bilang pantukoy kay Jesus. What does this term really mean?
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THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH

Para maunawaan ito, we should all go back the passages of the Old Testament. ”Immanuel” was based on the prophecy of Isaiah during the time of Ahaz of Judah (around 735 B.C.). Ang kapanganakan ng Immanuel ay tanda ng Diyos kay King Ahaz na kasama nila Siya (Isa 7:14) kaya't hindi dapat siya mangamba sa nangyayaring gulo sa panahon niya (v.7:1-7). Pinangako ng Diyos na bago mawala ang pagiging inosente ng batang ito ay mawawala na ang Syria at Ephraim na kinakatakutan niya (v.16). Pinapakita nito na ang prophecy ay tumutukoy originally sa isang partikular na bata na ipapanganak sa panahon ni Isaiah at ni King Ahaz. We don’t have any record of that specific child born during that time. Some records suggest na sa panahon na nakaligtas ang Judah sa Syriah at Ephraim, may mga young mothers na pinangalanan ang mga anak nila ng “Immanuel” as a reminder of this prophecy. May mga nagsa-suggest din na ito ay isa sa mga anak ni Isaiah dahil ang mga anak niya ay ginagamit din ng Diyos bilang signs sa Israel (read Isa 8:1-18). Marami pang ibang theory patungkol sa identity ng Immanuel sa time ni Isaiah. But the fact that the Scripture is silent about this particular child means that it is not worth our attention.
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THE FULFILLMENT IN MATTHEW

Matthew “reinterpreted” the prophecy and used it to point us to Jesus—the ultimate fulfillment of the promise. “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has spoken by the prophet: Behold the ****** shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” (Matt 1:22-23). Anong mga katotohanan gustong iparating ng pagtawag kay Jesus bilang Immanuel?
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"GOD WITH US" AS HUMAN

According kay Isaiah, ang Immanuel ay tatawaging “Mighty God” (Isa 9:6). He also used “Mighty God” as reference to God Himself (10:21). By this we can assume na may tinatanaw si Isaiah na magiging katuparan nito sa hinaharap . His prophecy was not just limited to the birth of a particular child during his time for his prophecy involves God Himself who will reign forever on David’s throne (9:6-7). Matthew revealed that the prophecy is pointing to none other than Jesus. Walang pwedeng maging sukdulang katuparan (ultimate fulfillment) ng propesiya maliban sa Kanya. Jesus alone could be called Immanuel (or “God with us”) for He Himself is God. He is the Promised King from David’s line (Isa 9:6-7, Matt 1:1,6 “Son of David” 15:23; 22; 21:9; etc). Kaya hindi nakapagtataka na sa lahat ng Gospel records, tanging kay Matthew lang mababasa ang kwento ng mga Magi. The author intentionally did this for us to realize that Jesus, indeed, is God and He is the Promised King kaya nakuha pa ng mga Magi na magbyahe nang malayo para lang sambahin Siya (1:1-2).

Incarnation (“becoming flesh or human being”) of Christ is the great miracle of the First Christmas. The Word (Logos) who is with God and is God Himself (Jn 1:1) became flesh (v.14). The Creator became one of His own creation. Jesus, who is in the form of God, humbled Himself to become man (Phil 2:5-11).
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"GOD WITH US" AS OUR HOPE

Ang isisilang na Immanuel ang tanda ng pag-asa kay Ahaz (Isa 7:1-14). Si Jesus ang tanda ng pag-asa sa lahat. “Jesus” literally means “Yahweh saves” at ipinangalan ito sa Kanya “for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:21). This shows that Christ came with a mission: To Save. And so the Immanuel was born to be our hope ---for He came to save us from sin.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” (Lk 2:14). The angels were right for Jesus is the bringer of peace on earth because He is the only way for us to be reconciled to God. Nagkaroon tayo ng kapayapaan sa Diyos sa pamamagitan Niya (Rom 5:1).
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"GOD WITH US" AS OUR HELP

Dahil nagkatawang-tao ang Diyos, we can be sure na nauunawaan Niya tayo. Naging kapiling natin mismo ang Diyos dahil nagawa Niyang pumasok sa mga pinagdaraanan natin. Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses for He also faced temptations (Heb 4:15), disappointment (Lk 13:34), poverty (Matt 8:20), sorrow (Matt 26:38; 27:46; Jn 11:35) at marami pang iba! Jesus experienced what we are experiencing, and so, He understands.

Christ, our Immanuel, is our most reliable help, not only because He understands us but also because He is near. It is interesting na pansinin na sinimulan at tinapos ni Matthew ang kanyang Ebanghelyo sa ideya na kapiling natin ang Diyos. He came to fulfill the prophecy: “God is with us” (Matt 1:22-23). He ascended with the promise that He will never leave until the very end (28:20).
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Celebrate the season with Christ and for Christ. He is our Immanuel! Merry Christmas!

 

[OrangeMoon]

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