Immanuel - God With Us: A 6-Day Advent Devotional From the Team at Gather25Sample

Around 400 years passed between the events of the Old Testament and the New Testament, a period sometimes referred to as the “years of silence.” During this time, the people of Israel longed to hear from God and waited for their Messiah. Although he may have seemed silent, he certainly was not still. His grand rescue plan was still unfolding without a hitch.

And just as Israel’s hundreds of years of waiting were beginning to feel hopeless, “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4).

Mary and Joseph, Israelites in the family of Abraham and David, were told that Mary, a virgin, would give birth to a son. As they grappled with this unbelievable information, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him, “‘[Mary] will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us)” (Matthew 1:21-23).

Immanuel. God with us.

The hope of Israel - the hope of the whole world - was finally coming. But he wasn’t coming as a powerful king or political leader; he was coming as a baby who would save us from our sins. And he wasn’t just a baby. He was God himself.

John would later write, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). This Word who became flesh is Jesus, our Immanuel. Through Jesus, God no longer needed a tabernacle or a temple to dwell in. He was not confined behind the curtains of the Most Holy Place or accessible only to priests. He was here to put on flesh and blood and humbly take the experience of being human. Through joy and pain, good days and bad, laughter and tears, He had come to be with us in it all.

Who in your life needs to hear this good news of Christmas – that Jesus was born to be with us and save us from our sins? This Advent season, as you celebrate Jesus’ birth, we invite you to consider who you can share this gospel truth with.

Jesus, This Advent season I celebrate your birth! I praise you that you came to earth to be with me and to save me from my sins. You are my Immanuel, God with me who brings hope and salvation! Use me to spread this good news to those around me.

Reflect: What are you waiting for right now? Does God feel silent? Take time to remember that God is working in your waiting, and ask him to help you trust and hope in him as you wait.