Being that this message was crafted for our Christmas Service, I yearn to share the profound hope that emerges from the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But before diving into that, I must share something deeply personal. This year has been a turbulent ride for me. Sure, there were flashes of joy, but they were overshadowed by countless hardships. I felt as though I was under relentless spiritual assault, even wrestling with anger towards God! How many of us have experienced such fury? How many have felt cast aside at times? How many have struggled with the guilt that follows? I certainly have! Honestly, I reached a breaking point, where my frustration with the hypocrisy around me led me to distaste for many of the Lord’s followers. It created an ominous darkness, a chasm of despair within me. Yet, I slowly began to recognize this turmoil within myself. God, in His infinite wisdom, placed wise elders in my path, urging me to reconnect with the Holy Spirit and nourish my soul. But how could I achieve that if I didn’t make the effort to commune with God in my intimate moments? How could I rise above all that I was feeling?
Well, Jesus inspires us to approach everything with fervent fasting and prayer. So I committed to praying for ten minutes each day, pouring out my heart. I shouted with intensity, I yelled passionately, I ranted with fervor. And with time, I found myself eagerly anticipating these moments. Slowly, it felt as if the sun was breaking through the clouds once more, shining down with renewed hope and warmth.
God can embrace our anger. God can carry our pain. Why? Because He has felt it all and continues to walk alongside us through our struggles. God is truly with us! That is the essence of His name—Immanuel, Jesus—forever near, forever loving.
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
-Isaiah 7:14
The book of Isaiah, penned centuries before the miraculous birth of Jesus, resonates with profound significance. In astonishing foresight, the prophet boldly proclaims that the Savior would come into the world, revealing the awe-inspiring truth that He would embody “God with us”—a message encapsulated in the beautiful name Immanuel.
Let’s delve into the verses that powerfully illustrate how this extraordinary fulfillment came to life:
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
-Matthew 1:18-25
“God with us,” Immanuel! God was made FLESH, just as John 1:14 boldly declares! Flesh! Throughout the Bible, the term “flesh” is often portrayed negatively, and many are conditioned to view it that way. Yes, flesh can be the very thing that trips us up in our journey with God. Yet, it also holds the potential to be:
- Physical body
- Earthly life
- Relationships
- AND the human nature of Christ
Flesh is not inherently negative; rather, it is a profound gift! Jesus, too, was flesh, embodying the beauty of human experience. Our flesh allows us to feel intensely and truly engage with this vibrant physical world around us. Jesus, Immanuel—God with us—immersed Himself in this life, embracing every joy and sorrow that we do.
- Poverty
- Physical suffering
- Emotional suffering
- Hunger
- Fatigue
- Thirst
- Temptation
- Betrayal
- Grief
- Loss
Jesus reveled in the abundant beauty and joy the fleshly world had to offer, embracing life with every fiber of His being.
- Love
- Family
- Friendships
- Community
- Miracles
- And more
Flesh can truly be a remarkable gift! In my moments of hardship, I came to understand that no matter how distant I felt from God, He was always by my side, guiding me through the shadows. I want to share a poem that has touched countless hearts and is familiar to many: “Footsteps in the Sand.” This beautiful poem has captured my spirit since childhood. My grandmother kept it proudly displayed in her house, and now, I too cherish it in my own home.
One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”
I fervently pray that this empowers and fuels your spirit just as it has mine! God stands by us, and we are never forsaken. Amen!
-Pastor Alex