December
23, 2003
SHALL
CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL
"The
Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall
conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel"
(Isaiah 7:14, NKJV).
The translation
of the word Immanuel is "God with us" (See Matthew
1:23). Yet again, the Spirit of God speaks to us. The voice
of witnesses are lifted up from the prophetic past. If we
will hear the call, if we will receive the testimony of God's
messengers, we may understand what is happening in these last
days, and be spared the confusion and evil coming upon the
world.
"Reports
have reached the rulers in Jerusalem that Jesus is approaching
the city with a great concourse of people. But they have no
welcome for the Son of God. In fear they go out to meet Him,
hoping to disperse the throng. As the procession is about
to descend the Mount of Olives, it is intercepted by the rulers.
They inquire the cause of the tumultuous rejoicing. As they
question, "Who is this?" the disciples, filled with
the spirit of inspiration, answer this question. In eloquent
strains they repeat the prophecies concerning Christ:
Adam will tell you, He is the Seed of
the woman that shall bruise the serpent's head. Genesis 3:15.
Ask Abraham, he will tell you, He is 'Melchizedek King of
Salem,' King of Peace. Genesis 14:18.
Jacob will tell you, He is Shiloh of the tribe of Judah (Genesis
49:10).
Isaiah will tell you, He is 'Immanuel,' 'Wonderful, Counselor,
The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace'
(Isaiah 7:14; 9:6).
Jeremiah will tell you, He is the Branch of David, 'the Lord
our Righteousness' (Jeremiah 23:6).
Daniel will tell you, He is the Messiah (Daniel 9:25, 26).
Hosea
will tell you, He is 'the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is His
memorable name' (Hosea 12:5).
John the Baptist will tell you, He is 'the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sin of the world' (John 1:29).
The great Jehovah has proclaimed from His throne, 'This is
My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased' (Matthew 3:17).
We, His disciples, declare, 'This is Jesus, the Messiah, the
Prince of life, the Redeemer of the world.'
And the prince of the powers of darkness acknowledges Him,
saying, 'I know who You are--the Holy One of God!' (Mark 1:23,
24)."--Desire
of Ages, pp. 578, 579.
With
"so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us
run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God" (Hebrews 12:1, 2).
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