Tingnan ninyo; “Maglilihi ang isang birhen at magsisilang ng isang sanggol na lalaki, at tatawagin itong Emmanuel. (Ang kahulugan nito’y ‘Kasama natin ang Diyos’.)”

Mateo 1:23

The name “Emmanuel” has been written in countless Christmas cards for hundreds of years now and is part of the lyrics of many Christmas songs. In the Bible, this name was first mentioned by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:The virginwill conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.’”

God’s word was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. Itinuturo nito ang biyaya, na hindi dumarating sa pamamagitan ng pagsisikap ng tao, kundi sa pamamagitan ng pag-asa sa Diyos. Our powerful God can do what we cannot. This is the reason why Jesus Christ came. God gave us Jesus, who was born and was named “Emmanuel,” na literal na nangangahulugang, “kasama natin ang Diyos.”

God has always been with us. Siya ay nasa lahat ng dako sa lahat ng oras. David himself said in Psalm 139:7-10, “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.” In Jeremiah 23:23–24, God said, “Am I only a God nearby, and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places  so that I cannot see them? Do not I fill heaven and earth?” But what made the coming of Jesus significant is the fact that God finally had flesh and blood. May mukha na Siya. Love and compassion walked among us.

This season, in the middle of opening all the gifts under the tree, let’s thank God for His true gift: Emmanuel — God made flesh. God is with us.