Reflection: ‘And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ‘ John 14:16-17.
Immanuel means something very significant. In stark contrast to the false gods of the Old Testament, whose attention needed to be attracted by the sacrifice of children or by acts of self-harm, we have a God who chooses to come to us. He is Immanuel, which literally means “God with us.”
This name for God’s Messiah was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14, 700 years before Jesus came and fulfilled it (Matthew 1:23). The wonder of the gospel is that God came to us in person to rescue us back to himself.
But that was 2,000 years ago. What can we expect today?
When Jesus left to return to his Father, he knew how important the continual presence of God was to his disciples––so he organized for them to have the empowering presence of God within them, the Holy Spirit. It’s worth noting that Jesus was pretty excited about this provision (John 16:7).
Like the North Pole pulling at a compass needle, the Holy Spirit tugs at our soul, inviting us to know God’s truth and know his heart.
So make yourself open to him (Ephesians 5:18).
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, You are with us and not distant. I want to shout that from the mountaintops. You came to be with those you love, because of your love. The relief and joy in knowing you is wonderful. In Jesus name. Amen.