The Wednesday Word ~ 11 June, 2025 A.D.

God with Us, Part II

 by D G Miles McKee

-Matthew 1:23 

 

Christ is with us! He is, the incarnate God, Emmanuel.   

Bishop Ryle with his usual insightfulness writes,

“Would you have a strong foundation for your faith and hope? Then keep in constant view your Saviour’s divinity. He in whose blood you are taught to trust is the Almighty God. All power is His in heaven and earth. None can pluck you out of His hand. If you are a true believer in Jesus, let not your heart be troubled or afraid.”

-J.C Ryle: Commentary on Matthew 

But did Jesus really believe that He Himself was Emmanuel, God with us?  He most certainly did!  This is why He told His disciples, “Lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). Since repetition is the price of learning, let’s again remember that Jesus claimed He would be with each of His disciples wherever they went. He was, therefore, making a declaration of His omnipresence.  Was Jesus mistaken about this matter?  If so, the man was a fool and unsuitable material from which to shape a Saviour for the nations!  Was Jesus delusional?  To claim omnipresence is to claim an essential quality belonging exclusively to God.  Jesus, by this one claim, was declaring Himself the master of both space and time.  Is this the kind of thing we can excuse if it is not true? 

If this is a lie, then run away from Him.

If this is a lie, then He’s not the Way.

If this is a lie, then He’s not the Truth.

If this is a lie, then He’s not the Answer! 

But if that which Jesus is saying is true, worship Him, lay down your life for Him, trust Him, love Him serve Him and follow Him.

Furthermore, consider this: Have you ever noticed how that, in the Old Testament, Yahweh comforted His people with the very words “I am with you.” (see Genesis 28:15; Isaiah 43:2).  But now, in the New Testament, it is the Lord Jesus who gives this same promise to His followers.  Jesus has, in effect, stepped into the place of Yahweh by employing Yahweh’s exact language.  Does it not cause your heart to worship?  It should do, for Jesus Himself is wonderful!  He is God, in flesh, appearing!  The Hymn writer, Watts, captured some of the wonder of the eternal God stooping to be with us when he penned the lines,

“Archangels leave their high abode

To learn new mysteries here, and tell

The loves of our descending God,

The glories of Emmanuel.”

How do they find Him?

Does He have to rush to their aid from some distant domain? 

At what speed does He travel? 

They must consider that, if Christ is not God, He is not omnipresent.  If, however, they believe that Christ will never leave them and that He is always with them they must admit that He is omnipresent. However, if they do so they are acknowledging that He is God. 

Those of us, however, who believe in His Deity, have no difficulty in embracing a Saviour who is not only seated in Majesty in Heaven, but who is also our constant companion, helper and strength. Jesus is the Lord Ever-Present, He is Emmanuel, God with us.

And that´s the Gospel Truth!

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