Who is Emmanuel and what does he have to do with Christmas?
Ian
Hey Clive, in church on Sunday we sang “O Come, o come Emmanuel.” Who’s Emmanuel and what’s he have to do with Christmas?
Clive
Emmanuel is one of the names for Jesus. In Hebrew, it means “God with us.”
Ian
God with us?
Clive
Yes. It’s what Christmas is all about. Look – we can’t be with God on our own.
Ian
Why not?
Clive
Because God is perfect, and we’re not. We’re always messing up! We’re always making mistakes and fighting and hurting each others feelings.
Ian
Why not?
Clive
Because God is perfect, and we’re not. We’re always messing up! We’re always making mistakes and fighting and hurting each others feelings.
Ian
That’s true. I do mess up a lot.
Clive
For us to go to God, we would have to be as perfect as he is.
Ian
Well, that’s not gonna work.
Clive
No, it isn’t. No matter how hard we try, we can’t be perfect. And unless we’re perfect, we can’t go to God. So God came to us.
Ian
He did?
Clive
Yes! He became a man like us! Jesus! And he lived perfectly – without ever messing up – and then took all our mess-ups and paid them himself!
Ian
He paid for our mess-ups?
Clive
That’s right, Ian. So we wouldn’t have to. So in God’s eyes, WE would be perfect.
Ian
So we can be with him.
Clive
Right. We couldn’t go to God, so God came to us. Emmanuel. God with us. That’s what Christmas is all about.
Ian
Wow. No wonder we’re so merry! I’ve got one more question.
Clive
Tomorrow’s our 12th day – so make it a good one.
Ian
Oh, it’s a GREAT one!
Clive
All right! See you tomorrow! Merry Christmas, everyone!
Ian
God with us!
