“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us.)" Matthew 1:23 ESV I’ve heard this verse many times. It’s tempting to pass over it as that common Christmas verse. But, there is so much to think about in this simple memory verse.

The words remind me God is the Creator. He created the heavens and the earth and every living thing. He creates life. Therefore, the virgin conceived and bore a son.

The miraculous birth of Jesus was foretold centuries prior to Mary and Joseph sought shelter in the stable. The first promise of the Savior was in the Garden of Eden, when God promised an offspring of a woman would defeat Satan. (Genesis 3:15)

Later, God repeated his promise to save his people from the pit of evil—the sin we’d gotten ourselves into—atrocities of war, devastation of natural disasters, famine, poverty—all the results of willfulness against God’s rule.

Isaiah 7:14 says the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Jesus conceived by a virgin – God, Creator, could make this happen through the power of his Holy Spirit. Jesus came to this earth fully human. Although sinless, he could identify with our sin—for which he came to die. Jesus was fully God. After his resurrection, he ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.

Immanuel means God with us. Even after Jesus’ resurrection and he ascended to Heaven, he promised his presence—even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20) In the presence of God the Father, Jesus intercedes for us. Through his Holy Spirit, we are comforted, convicted when we sin, given wisdom to live as God commands, sealed as God’s own child.

Many will say they don’t need God with them. They are okay, self-sufficient, and confident in their ability to navigate this world. I used to be one to whom this memory verse meant nothing. While I put on a strong facade, I skidded downhill at an alarming pace, grasping at twigs to save me—until the day Jesus called me to investigate the truth. I thank God he called me, and gave me the hunger to know his word. I thank God Jesus paid my debt, because on my own, I am not okay. I’m not self-sufficient.

As Christmas approaches, I think of Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, the ancients awaiting the promised Savior—the end of hopelessness. He came that first Christmas. And I think of present day believers awaiting his return. We wait for the end of evil in the world. We wait for the promised time when every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord. We wait for all things to be made new.