The prophet Isaiah wrote twice about the identity and virgin birth of the Messiah approximately 700 years before the birth of Jesus (Isaiah 7:14 and 38:7). Isaiah is quoted by Matthew in today’s verse.

We are thus told three times in Scripture something remarkable, hardly fathomable, that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. That is, Jesus is not a reflection of God, a shadow of God, merely the perfectly obedient son of God, or any other description that treats Jesus as less than God, as God Junior. Jesus himself said, “I and the Father are one (John 10:30).”

Jesus did not leave room for limitation of his identity to a good man or a good teacher (rabbi). Jesus did not leave room for there being multiple paths to God. He said, “I Am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” No one means no one. Trust and surrender to Jesus today.

Querido Padre Celestial,

We thank You for sending Jesus to be with us in the stable – in every low point of our lives. We thank You that we can call out to You for help and rescue. We confess in our abundance, sometimes we don't even see what we're really missing. As we turn the corner toward a new year, let Your gift to us be eyes that are open to see what Jesus wants to do for us and give to us and transform us into, during the coming year. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen

Jesus, the King of the universe, came not to a castle but to humble beginnings, which is true for most of us (1 Corinthians 1:26). Be encouraged today that he uses the humble, so that it will be seen that what is done is done through Jesus and not by ourselves. Be neither ashamed nor proud, but commit your way to Jesus, and he will establish you.