The With-Us God

Immanuel. That is the name we hear and sing of during the Christmas season, and for good reason. It means, of course, “with us is God”. But to engage this name a little deeper, let’s look at the first chapter of John.

John 1:14; 16-18 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

The Greek word for dwelt in verse 14 essentially means to pitch a tent. Jesus pitched his tent right here on our planet, in a real town, and walked real streets. But do you know what else was a tent? How about the tabernacle, or portable temple, we read about in the Old Testament?

This was where the presence of God came down into the innermost chamber, or the Holy of Holies. Only certain priests could go in this most sacred place in the direct presence of God. Can you see the significance already?

Whereas the presence and glory of God were made fully known only within the tent of the tabernacle in the past, Jesus embodied and personified the presence and glory of God by making his home right in the middle of the neighborhood. Instead of only the Spirit of God in the tent of the tabernacle, Jesus took on flesh and walked among us. He embraced full personhood in order to completely express the essence of the Father to us in the most intimate and meaningful way possible. And he did it in the most humble way possible - born not into royalty and riches, but commonness and commotion. Born not in a sanitized hospital but an animal pen. The way he came had everything to do with why he came. He came for everyone - including those that were born as he was - in the dirt of an unglamorous, common life.

So, if Jesus is the Word of God, as John writes, then what was God saying? He was expressing by his incarnated, divine utterance the fullness of his grace (unearnable, animating favor) and the fullness of his truth (the enchanted reality of Creator and created). Jesus was and is that divine utterance, and it is still through his birth, life, death, and resurrection here on our soil that we can know the Father and learn to embody that same grace and truth.

That is Immanuel. That is the With-Us God.

 Author: Benjamin NeSmith

Benjamin NeSmith has spent his life working with people. He put his social science education degree to use teaching students of all ages, including those with special needs, for over a decade. He spent years as a recording and performing musician and is now a Certified Professional Coach and Pastor at Element Church Tampa. Benjamin enjoys family time, hiking, interior design, and creating meaningful liturgical experiences for others.