And He Shall Be Called: Emmanuel
Key Scripture:
“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)
During Advent, we celebrate the arrival of Jesus and look ahead to His return. It’s a season of hope—and tension. We recognize that Jesus, the King of kings, has already come once, and yet we’re still waiting to see the fullness of His rule on the earth.
But the real miracle of Christmas is this: that the One who holds all authority didn’t stay distant. He came near. He entered our world not in might, but in humility. He came not only to be with us—but to be in us, to make us holy, and to change everything.
From the Throne to the Manger
We cannot fully grasp the power of "Emmanuel" without first seeing the majesty of who came. This wasn’t just a baby in a manger—it was the King of kings. The same King whose throne is established forever (Isaiah 9:7), who commands angel armies, and who holds the keys of the kingdom.
And yet, this King chose to step into human history through the womb of a woman. He humbled Himself and took on flesh—not out of obligation, but out of love.
Philippians 2:6–7 (ESV) puts it this way:
“[Jesus], though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
This is what makes the Christmas story so radical: the divine wrapped in swaddling clothes. The Creator sleeping in a borrowed stable. The God who came not just to observe our brokenness—but to enter it, carry it, and heal it.
The First Key: Revelation of Jesus
In Matthew 16, Jesus asked His disciples a defining question:
“Who do you say that I am?”
Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus responded with a promise:
“On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom...”
— Matthew 16:18–19 (ESV)
The “rock” wasn’t Peter himself—it was his revelation. His declaration of who Jesus truly is. That revelation is the foundation Jesus builds upon. It’s also the first key to the kingdom. When we truly know who Jesus is—fully God, fully man, anointed, holy, merciful, and just—our lives begin to align with heaven’s authority.
We must ask ourselves regularly: Who do I say Jesus is?
Because the clearer our view of Him, the more trustworthy we become to carry His kingdom.
The Second Key: Submission to His Will
We pray “Your kingdom come, Your will be done,” but often stop at the first half. The truth is: the kingdom only comes where the King’s will is done.
Scripture makes it clear that God has a will—and that will is defined by righteousness, purity, unity, honor, faith, and love. These things please Him. They are marks of His kingdom.
Ephesians 5:10 (ESV) urges us to:
“Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”
This requires humility. It requires that we ask not just what God can do for us, but what He desires from us. If we want to be entrusted with the “keys” of spiritual authority—if we long to see heaven break in around us—we must grow in maturity and submission.
It’s not about earning His favor, but about being formed into trustworthy stewards of His name.
Just as no wise parent hands over car keys to a child unready to drive, God’s not holding back out of punishment—but out of wisdom. He wants to entrust us with more. And He’s preparing us for it.
The Third Key: Adoration and Walking in the Light
True worship is more than songs—it’s surrender. When the wise men came to Jesus, they didn’t just bring gifts. They bowed and worshiped (Matthew 2:11). That physical posture mirrored the posture of their hearts. And it’s the same heart God is looking for today.
Adoration is an act of allegiance. It declares: You’re the King. I’m not. And it moves us to bring our lives into the light.
1 John 1:7 (ESV) says:
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
There is no shame in the light—only freedom.
Confession isn't weakness, it's strength. It’s how we become whole. And it’s how we stay available for God to use us.
Some of the most powerful movements of God begin not with grand acts, but quiet moments of honesty and worship.
He Still Comes Close
Jesus was not only born in a manger—He now lives in us through the Holy Spirit. He didn’t just come once. He’s still coming, still moving, still speaking.
And He’s coming again.
This Christmas season, we remember that He is Emmanuel—God with us. But we also remember that He is still the King of kings. Still the Judge of all the earth. Still full of mercy—and full of power.
May we be a people who walk in revelation, live in submission, and respond in adoration.
Reflection Questions
What’s my current revelation of Jesus? Have I let familiarity dull my awe of Him?
In what areas of my life do I need to submit more fully to what pleases God?
Is there anything I need to bring into the light to walk in deeper freedom and worship?