Have you ever wondered what God is really like? In a world full of conflicting religious messages and contradictory views about the divine, it’s natural to feel confused or uncertain. But there’s a profound truth found in an ancient prophecy that cuts through the noise: “They shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
This simple phrase—“God with us”—carries an extraordinary message that changed the course of human history. When Jesus came to Earth, He wasn’t just another religious teacher or philosopher. He was God Himself, stepping into our world to show us exactly who He is and what He’s like.
Think about that for a moment. Instead of remaining distant and mysterious, God chose to become one of us. He walked our streets, experienced our struggles, and shared our joys and sorrows. Through Jesus, God revealed Himself as someone who doesn’t demand our service but comes to serve us instead.
Jesus Is Radically Different
What we discover through Jesus is radically different from what many people imagine about God. Rather than a distant, angry deity keeping score of our failures, we see a God who is fundamentally other-centered and loving. Jesus spent His time healing the sick, comforting the broken-hearted, and welcoming those whom society had rejected. Every action, every word, every moment of His life showed us what God is really like.
Consider how Jesus treated people. He didn’t avoid those with messy lives or questionable reputations. Instead, He sought them out. He dined with tax collectors, defended women caught in scandal, and touched those deemed untouchable by society. Through these actions, Jesus revealed a God who doesn’t wait for us to clean up our act before approaching us—He meets us exactly where we are.
He didn’t use His divine power for personal gain or comfort. Instead, He channeled it all into serving, healing, and ultimately giving His life for others.
One of the most compelling aspects of Jesus’s ministry was His approach to prayer. He didn’t present prayer as a formal religious ritual but as an intimate conversation with a loving Father. When His disciples asked Him how to pray, He taught them to begin with “Our Father”—not “Almighty God” or “Supreme Ruler,” but a term of familial closeness. This reveals a God who desires intimate relationship, not religious performance.
Jesus’s teachings about forgiveness also paint a revolutionary picture of God’s character. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, He portrays God as a father who runs—against all cultural dignity—to embrace his wayward child. This wasn’t just a story; it was a window into God’s heart, showing us a divine love that defies our human expectations of judgment and condemnation.
Jesus’s willingness to sacrifice Himself for others was the most powerful demonstration of God’s character. He didn’t use His divine power for personal gain or comfort. Instead, He channeled it all into serving, healing, and ultimately giving His life for others. This reveals a God whose nature is self-giving love, not self-serving power.
This Time of Year
This is the time of year when most of Christendom celebrates the birthday of Jesus. People are busy buying presents for family and friends. But the question remains what are people giving to Jesus, after all it is His birthday. May I suggest a few ways to give?
Open your Bible and commitment to reading and reflecting on His story, especially as recorded in the gospels (first four books of the New Testament).
Abandon yourself to God and the way of love, drinking deeply of His love, and then let if flow through you to others.
Stop trying to sort out your messes and turn them over to His gracious care.
As we reflect on who Jesus really is, we're invited to move beyond mere religious observance into a transformative relationship with the God who chose to be with us. His radical love continues to challenge and change lives today, just as it did two thousand years ago. By embracing His story, sharing His love, and trusting His care, we don't just celebrate His birth—we participate in His ongoing work of bringing heaven's reality to earth.
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