That’s really all we need to know. It’s so elemental that it strips away everything else. We first hear about “Immanuel” in the Old Testament verses from Isaiah – a prophecy about the birth of Jesus. It comes back in the passage from Matthew, where Joseph is visited by an angel so he will not forsake his fiancé, Mary, who is already with child (not his). “They shall call him Emmanuel,” Joseph is told by an angel. 

With the birth of the baby Jesus, God is indeed with us. It’s a very literal take – Jesus living as we live – experiencing joy, sadness, fear, fury, love. Today, perhaps “Jesus” is not walking among us, yet the promise of Jesus remains. God is no ruler from on high. God is with us. Right here, right now. Celebrating with us, grieving with us, and always loving us. To which I say, thank goodness!