The world is constantly searching for answers
to the purpose and meaning of life. When
people hope in the things of this world, they
are left with broken promises and unmet
expectations. The world needs a hope that is
irrefutable. When something is irrefutable it
is impossible to prove it wrong. It cannot be
denied, and it can be completely trusted.
Jesus is that hope. He is irrefutable.
Each Christmas, we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ. Hundreds of years before He was born of the virgin Mary, God revealed through His prophets that Jesus would come, live, and pay the price for our salvation. These prophecies, along with the fulfillment of these prophecies, point to Jesus as the irrefutable Lord and Savior of the world. Without a doubt, Jesus is . .
. . . . God with us
. . . . the Light in the darkness
. . . . the Savior who came to us
. . . . the King who reigns forever
. . . . the Light and Glory of God
. . . . the Ruler who cares for His people
Share Christ. The Christmas season is an ideal time to point others to Jesus Christ. We gain confidence in sharing His story as we see how His life is a part of God’s grand design planned long ago. The birth of Jesus is not just a quaint story we tell at Christmas; it was prophesied centuries earlier.
Irrefutable: Prophecies That Point Us to Jesus
Session 1 God with Us Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25
Session 2 The Light in the Darkness Isaiah 9:1-3; John 1:1-9
Session 3 The Savior Who Came to Us Luke 2:4-12,16-20
Session 4 The King Who Reigns Forever Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:26-33
Session 5 The Light and Glory of God Luke 2:25-35
Session 6 The Ruler Who Cares for His People Micah 5:2-5a; Matthew 2:1-6,9-11
When has someone’s presence been the ultimate present for you?
THE POINT
Jesus is Immanuel—God with us.
It was the biggest night of my senior basketball season. Our team wasn’t great, but somehow we made the state semi-finals. Because this was unexpected, my dad had booked an event out of town, meaning he would miss the game. I was crushed! I’ll never forget my dad’s words after he heard my pleas: “Son, I promise I’ll be there.”
The gym that night was filled with incredible anticipation. The place was packed with fans, but I was only concerned about one person. Would my dad be able to keep his promise? As I led my team onto the floor with our fight song filling the arena, I looked up into the stands, and there he was, cheering me on. My dad kept his promise!
In a world that is filled with broken promises, I am thankful for an earthly father who kept his. I am most thankful for our heavenly Father who always keeps His promises. Because God kept His promise given through the prophet Isaiah, we can celebrate Immanuel—God with us.
Jesus is Immanuel—God with us.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Isaiah 7:14 14
“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.”
This promise of a coming Messiah who would save the world and the fulfillment of this promise through the birth of Jesus Christ demonstrates the trustworthiness of the Lord. The specific details in this verse about this coming Messiah are what makes this prophecy a miracle of God.
Question 2: What are some things you appreciate about biblical prophecy?
The birth of a baby always produces incredible excitement. For a while, my wife and I had a difficult time becoming parents. When we found out we were expecting our first child, we were overcome with joy. God soon gave us even more reasons to be thankful. Our firstborn son was followed later by twin boys and a girl.
Any announcement of a new child is exciting. Isaiah 7:14 not only is an exciting announcement, but the prophet Isaiah also shared some important details in the verse. First, we learn that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. Second, His name would be called Immanuel. Before we consider the importance of these two details, let’s understand the context of this prophecy in Isaiah.
God raised up the prophet Isaiah, whose name means “Yahweh is salvation.” God called Isaiah during a time of great struggle for His people. Isaiah’s words to the people pointed to the meaning of his name. When we come to Isaiah 7, Ahaz was the king of Judah, the country was under attack, and his people were terrified (7:1-2). God offered to give Ahaz a sign that He was powerful enough to take care of their enemies, but Ahaz didn’t seem to think he needed God’s help.
Upon hearing King Ahaz’s refusal to ask for a sign, Isaiah the prophet broadened his audience beyond the king. He told the whole faithless house of David that God would give a sign anyway! The house of David’s wickedness had tested God’s long-suffering patience, but God had a sign for them: “See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.”
Many prophecies refer to more than one event. The first fulfillment of a prophecy usually is found in a person or event close to the time when the prophecy was first given.
The ultimate fulfillment is usually found in the Person of Christ. However, Isaiah 7:14 does not mean two virgin births occurred! The Hebrew word for virgin can refer to a young maiden or a woman who has never been sexually intimate. In the immediate context, though, a son likely born to Ahaz would be a reminder of God’s presence.
The ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah, however, was truly a miraculous virgin birth. When the Old Testament was translated into the Greek language, the word used for virgin had the narrowly defined meaning of an unmarried daughter, one who had never been sexually intimate. As Matthew was inspired to recount the birth of Jesus, he used this translation of Isaiah 7:14, clearly wanting us to see the miraculous virgin birth of Christ.
The virgin birth of Christ is an important truth; Jesus had to be one of us—human—to die in our place, but He couldn’t offer the perfect sacrifice if He were like every other human with a sin nature. The virgin birth means Jesus had no human father—God is His Father—and Jesus was born without a sin nature. Jesus is fully man and He is fully God. God is with us!
Matthew 1:18-19
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
As this passage makes clear, the Messiah would be born of a virgin. From a human perspective, a virgin birth is impossible. Over the centuries, people have scoffed at this idea. It’s quite possible that Joseph and Mary’s own contemporaries jeered when the couple tried to explain the situation. But God makes the impossible possible!
Mary “was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.” Let that phrase sink in for a moment. Of course, we know what it is to be pregnant. We also know about God the Holy Spirit. But to merge those two things was unheard of, and Joseph’s mind had to be reeling from that phrase.
Mary’s divine pregnancy certainly changed Joseph’s plans, but his actions were commendable. He took the high road by planning a secret divorce. Surely Joseph’s heart was broken. But his love for Mary and his sense of righteousness drove his actions (even though the Old Testament law allowed for a public stoning for adultery [Deut. 22:22-24]). Joseph chose not to create a controversial public scandal by taking news of Mary’s condition to the judges at the city gate.
Instead, Joseph chose the way of mercy. The situation had changed his plans, but that would not change his love for Mary or his desire to live righteously. So, Joseph sought to move on quietly from this painful chapter of his life. Joseph took a bold stance in his decision. He thought that divorcing Mary quietly would be the most loving action he could take. But as we shall see, God intervened with a far greater and more righteous approach.
Question 3: How does it impact your life knowing that God will always keep His promises?
Matthew 1:20-25
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
As Joseph considered what he thought to be the best option—divorce—God sent an angel to give him a “course correction.” Sometimes God tells us to adjust our plans. As Joseph listened to the description of the Messiah, he surely realized this event was not some spur-of-the-moment decision on God’s part.
Question 4: What do you appreciate about Joseph from this narrative?
The last words of verse 23 stand out: “God is with us.” While “Jesus” is the earthly name that was given to Christ (Luke 1:31), Immanuel is an apt description. Immanuel describes what God did in sending Jesus. God’s presence was with His people.
By the time of Jesus’ birth, the Jewish people had been longing for the presence of the Messiah. The coming Messiah would fulfill the promises made throughout the Hebrew Scriptures: promises of a prosperous kingdom filled with victory, joy, and prosperity. Promises of deliverance from enemies, hatred, and pain. However, God’s promise embedded in the name Immanuel would take them—and us—far beyond these things we would receive from His hand. With this promise is the gift of His presence. When Jesus is with us, He is all we need. Nothing is more powerful in our lives than the presence of God.
Joseph no doubt was still concerned about the opinions of those around him. But Joseph also was reassured that the Lord was with him, and more importantly, the long-awaited Messiah was now coming into the world.
Question 5: Why is God’s presence with us so important.
GOD’S PRESENCE
In the space below, describe how you have experienced God’s presence in the following areas of life.
In Nature:
At Home:
At Work:
In Community:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
JOHN 1:14
Jesus is Immanuel—God with us.
LIVE IT OUT
Choose one of the following applications:
Sing to Him. Look up the lyrics to “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” As you listen to the song, consider how Jesus’ presence makes all the difference.
Sit with Him. Set aside time each day this week to enjoy God’s presence. Turn off your phone and find a quiet spot to contemplate the depths of God’s love for you.
Share about Him. The virgin birth seems impossible and unbelievable to many people today. Look for opportunities to discuss the wonder of the virgin birth with others who might not know Christ, emphasizing that this points to the unbelievably wonderful truth of our reconciliation with God, which is impossible without Christ.
We all have people in our lives who make promises. Sometimes they even keep them. Thankfully we have a God who always keeps His promises, beginning with one that is essential for our salvation: He is with us.
Teacher's Notes:
God
with Us
The
Passages: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23
Video:
David Bowie & Bing Crosby
What
are some of your favorite things about the Christmas season?
The
Christmas season is an ideal time to point others to Jesus Christ. We gain
confidence in sharing His story as we see how His life is a part of God’s grand
design planned long ago. The birth of Jesus is not just a story we tell at
Christmas; it was prophesied centuries earlier.
God
promised, through Isaiah, that He Himself would be with us. And
through Jesus, God completely fulfilled this promise. Jesus came to earth in
the flesh, not as a replica of God, or a stand-in for God.
Jesus
is God Himself with us.
Isaiah
prophesied about the birth of a son centuries before Jesus’ birth.
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore,
the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a
son, and name him Immanuel.”
What
is the historical setting for the sign given to Ahaz? What was the intent of
the sign? What makes the sign unusual, impossible, and miraculous? What is the
meaning and message behind calling the child Immanuel?
Answer: In
735 BC, Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel formed an alliance in anticipation
of making a military response to Assyrian aggression. They asked Ahaz, king of
Judah, to join them, but he refused. Subsequently, Rezin and Pekah attacked
Judah with the intent of putting their own leader in place, someone who would
be more agreeable to their plans. Commissioned by the Lord, Isaiah sought out
Ahaz to assure him the efforts of Rezin and Pekah would fail because they were
relying on their own strength, not the Lord’s.
Isaiah
encouraged the king, “Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God” (Isa. 7:11). A sign
often indicated a miraculous event, evidence that what had occurred was not a
coincidence or accident but an intentional act that confirmed the presence of
the Lord. No limits were placed on him. He could ask whatever he wanted “either
in the depth, or in the height above” (v. 11). “Let it be as deep as Sheol or
as high as heaven” (ESV).
Ahaz
refused to do as he was bidden. He attempted to couch his refusal in humility,
claiming he would not “tempt the Lord” (v. 12). “I will not put the Lord to the
test” (NIV, ESV). Actually, because the command was a word from the Lord,
Ahaz’s refusal to ask for a sign was nothing more than an act of disobedience.
His disobedience was a sign in itself that the Lord was not Ahaz’s God; the
king had no viable relationship with the Lord God.
The
Lord himself would give him a sign anyway, an indication of His presence. A
virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. How
unusual, impossible, and miraculous would that be? “Isaiah’s carefully chosen
word that is translated virgin permitted the birth of a son to one who was a
virgin at the time of the prophecy. That child, however, would have a human
father.” 1 The child would be called Immanuel, meaning “God is with us.” More
than a name in the usual sense of the word, Immanuel is a functional title
revealing what the child had come to do. He was given to make God and His
presence known.
How
are we to understand this sign? Initially, the sign was given to address the
immediate situation in Judah. But just who the mother and child were is not
clear; neither is the time of its initial fulfillment specified. Was this sign
to be connected with the references to a promised child described in Isaiah
9:6-7 and a descendant of David spoken of in 11:1-5? The continuity of Isaiah’s
message would certainly say it is.
The
New Testament writers, moved by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, applied the
promise of Isaiah 7:14 to Jesus (Matt. 1:18-23). That does not mean Matthew
wrote Jesus back into the words of Isaiah. No, even while Isaiah spoke to the
immediate historical context, God was speaking a preparatory word of what He
would ultimately bring to pass in the birth of His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, born
to a virgin girl named Mary. She would be overwhelmed by the power of the Holy
Spirit to conceive and bear a Child who would be “God with us.”
Matthew’s
story of the birth of Jesus begins with an angel telling Joseph that the child to
be born to Mary was the work of God and fulfilled the promise declared by the
prophet.
Matthew 1:18-23
The
birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been
engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was
pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man,
and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But
after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your
wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will
give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his
people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by
the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give
birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is
with us.”
Why is
the virgin birth important to the Christian faith?
We
typically begin the Christmas story through the eyes of Mary and Joseph. Sometimes
it is easy to forget that the people God chose as Jesus’ parents were young
and, in many ways, unprepared. Yet Mary and Joseph trusted in God’s plan and
were faithful. This is such an important reminder in the Christmas story; that …
God
doesn’t call the qualified but qualifies the called.
During
Christmas we celebrate the birth of a baby, but not just any baby. If Jesus is
only a baby in a manger, we miss the meaning of His birth. His birth represents
the arrival of God Himself having come to earth.
Our
faith, like Joseph’s, must be grounded in the truth that …
Jesus
is Immanuel—God with us
Write
a brief statement that summarizes what it means to you that Jesus came as Immanuel,
“God with us.”
__________________________________
What Immanuel
Means for Us Today
In
truth, God is and always has been with us. He is omnipresent, which means He is
everywhere all the time. Speaking of God, the ancient psalmist David wrote,
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go
up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are
there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the
sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast”
(Psalm 139:7-10 NIV). And in Jeremiah 23:23-24, God said, “‘Am I only a God
nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret
places so that I cannot see them?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and
earth?’ declares the Lord” (NIV).
Because
of Jesus, Immanuel, we never have to be alone. We never have to wonder how to
please God or worry if our efforts aren’t enough. We can simply rest knowing He
is with us, in us, loves us, and will never leave us.
Nothing
is more critical than finding some personal time during these days to reflect
on the significance of a Christmas far beyond all the activities. The birth of
the Baby was the arrival of God Himself. Jesus came to save us. He is
Immanuel—God with us.
If we
miss that, we have missed Christmas even if we observed a holiday.
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