The statement that Jesus is “God with us” comes from the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 which says “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel means “God with us.” This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus was born of the virgin Mary as recorded in Matthew 1:23 – “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” So Jesus being called Immanuel, or “God with us,” means that in His incarnation, Jesus is God in human flesh, dwelling among His people.
There are several key implications of Jesus being “God with us”:
- Jesus reveals God to us. As John 1:14 and 18 say, Jesus reveals the glory and character of God to mankind. Through Christ we see what God is truly like.
- Jesus saves us from our sin. Jesus came to die on the cross for our sins and rescue us from condemnation (Matthew 1:21). His presence with us makes salvation possible.
- Jesus empowers us. The Holy Spirit was sent to indwell believers after Jesus’ ascension. Through the Spirit, Jesus remains present with His followers guiding, empowering, and transforming them.
- Jesus understands our struggles. Since Jesus took on human flesh and experienced life on earth, He can empathize with our pains, trials, and weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15-16).
- Jesus gives us hope. Knowing that God came near to save us through Christ and remains near through the Spirit gives followers of Jesus hope in the midst of life’s troubles.
The Old Testament contains many prophecies about the coming Messiah who would dwell among His people and accomplish their salvation. Passages like Isaiah 9:6 refer to this coming one as “Mighty God.” So Jesus being called Immanuel or “God with us” means the promised God and Savior had finally come to deliver His people just as God had said He would.
Jesus affirmed His own deity which is what allows Him to be “God with us.” For example:
- Jesus claimed He and the Father are one (John 10:30)
- Jesus received worship from His disciples (Matthew 14:33)
- Jesus claimed to have authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-12)
- Jesus said He was greater than the temple and Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:6,8)
- Jesus proclaimed “Before Abraham was, I am” affirming His eternal nature (John 8:58)
- Jesus allowed others to call Him God (John 20:28)
These examples and many others from the Gospels show that Jesus thought of Himself as much more than a prophet or teacher – He claimed to be divine. And through His miracles, resurrection from the dead, and fulfilled messianic prophecies the Bible affirms that Jesus is fully God. Therefore, He can rightly be called Immanuel which means “God with us.”
Jesus took on human nature to dwell with us
In order for Jesus to be “God with us” He had to add humanity to His divinity. Although Jesus always existed as the eternal Son of God, at a point in time He took on human flesh:
John 1:14 – 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.
Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit, not through a human father (Luke 1:35). He was born as a baby and lived His life as a man while also being fully God at the same time. This is referred to as the “hypostatic union” – Jesus having two distinct natures united in one person.
Why did Jesus need to become man in order to dwell among us? The author of Hebrews explains:
Hebrews 2:14,17 – Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil… Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect.
Jesus took on human nature so that He could die in our place on the cross. As God alone, Jesus could not have died. But as a man, He could suffer and pay the penalty for our sins. Being “God with us” in the flesh also allowed Jesus to fully empathize with our weaknesses and model obedience as our example to follow.
Jesus came to rescue humanity
Why did Jesus come to be “God with us”? As already mentioned, a primary reason was to save His people from condemnation for their sins. All throughout the Old Testament God promised that He would provide a rescuer:
Isaiah 53:4-6 – Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
This rescuer turned out to be Jesus. The angel told Joseph concerning Mary’s pregnancy, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). As “God with us” Jesus was able to live the perfect life we could not, die in our place to pay sin’s penalty, and rise again victoriously over death.
Jesus described His mission as giving life, especially eternal life:
John 10:10 – I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Because God loves us, He sent Jesus to be “God with us” so that through faith in Christ we can have forgiveness and abundant life now as well as eternal life in the future. Without Jesus being Immanuel, we would all perish eternally for our sins with no hope of salvation.
Jesus continues to be with us
After His sacrificial death for sin and triumphant resurrection from the grave, Jesus physically ascended to heaven. But He did not leave His followers all alone. Jesus continues to be “God with us” through the presence of the Holy Spirit living within believers.
Jesus promised His disciples:
John 14:16-17 – And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…you know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Every Christian has the Spirit of Christ living inside providing guidance, conviction, spiritual gifts, inner strength, and continual connection with God. The Book of Acts shows this promise coming true at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers in Jerusalem. Through the Spirit, Jesus remains “God with us” even though He is physically in heaven.
Not only does Jesus live within His people by the Spirit, but He remains actively present and involved in their lives in other ways too:
- He intercedes for them before the Father (Romans 8:34)
- He helps and comforts them in hardship (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
- He empowers their witness (Acts 1:8)
- He works through their spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
Because Jesus is alive and reigning in heaven, He can continue to be an active, caring, and empowering presence in the lives of His followers until He returns.
One day Jesus will dwell with us again
When Jesus came the first time, His stay on earth was only temporary. But there is coming a day when Jesus will once again dwell with mankind, and this time it will be forever. The book of Revelation provides a vivid picture of this future restoration and what it will be like to have Jesus as “God with us” for eternity:
Revelation 21:1-4 – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
All who have put their faith in Jesus can look forward to this amazing day when Jesus will once again dwell among us. And there will be no more sin, brokenness, crying, or pain – only the perfect presence of Christ. As “God with us” forevermore, all of God’s promises and plans will find their ultimate fulfillment.
The fact that Jesus is called Immanuel or “God with us” shows God’s incredible love and grace reaching out to mankind: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This Jesus who is God dwelling among us to save and restore His people is someone everyone should put their hope and trust in.