The term Emmanuel is the name given to the promise of God, the hope of the world. It’s the promise of the Almighty walking and talking as a man, with mankind. It’s the promise of a babe wrapped in cloth, lying in a manger – the only eternal King.
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The angels stood in awe as their Commander wrapped Himself in flesh and entered the womb He had created. They sang, “Glory to God in the Highest,” as they experienced the wonder of heaven and earth colliding for the second time. Once again, they thought man would know what it’s like to walk in the cool of the day with his Creator. But this was not the bliss of Eden; redemption was at hand. There was work to do, a life to live, and a world in desperate need of its Saviour.
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The God of creation, unbound by time, space, or measure, decided that the only way forward was to take on human flesh. He stepped down from the realm of glory into a world destined for destruction. After 400 years of silence, His bride should have rejoiced – but He knew it would not be so. Despite His nail-pierced hands and feet, they would still laugh and mock Him 2,000 years later. Even so, Emmanuel – far above any kingdom or authority – said, “Enough is enough.” The Holy One of all stepped off His throne, rolled up His sleeves, and crawled into the feeding trough at Bethlehem.
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And at once, all of heaven and earth breathed a sigh of relief. The One who would conquer death grasped at the straw of the manger with those tiny, eternal hands. The conquering King, wrapped in cloths that would soon lay folded in an empty grave, lay here in a no-name town, with cattle for company.
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The Author of Salvation was setting out a new path – a path to the place where joy and peace will reign. A path defined by divine will, not the intention of the tempter. A new government. A new way. The only way. The chain-breaking, grave-dancing, death-defying, reckless-love way.
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And when that way reaches the golden shore, we will stand in the place where death has no say. A place where the very concept of sickness and suffering is completely foreign. There, our joy will be complete, and we shall sing with all of creation: “Glory to God in the Highest.”