In Luke 1: 31 we read that an Angel appeared to Mary and
proclaimed to her: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to
call him Jesus. And in Mathew 2:21-23 we read that an Angel proclaimed to
Joseph concerning Mary that: She will give birth to a son, and you shall give
Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. In fact
the Name Jesus means “Jehovah saves”.
This proclamation by the Angel is not to be confused with the
prophecy given through prophet Isaiah which is set down in Isaiah 7:14:
"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be
with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Imanuel.” We learn through scripture that this name
means “God with us”.
Clearly there are two names here, each with a different
meaning. While the proclamation of Jesus
by the angel is clear and was immediately fulfilled, that cannot be said of the
prophecy of Isaiah about Imanuel. Indeed, this prophecy of Isaiah has attracted
many studies by scholars and at least 28 authors have written their
dissertations on it. Yet there is no agreement between the scholars because
while some see the prophecy as having been fulfilled in the time of Isaiah, some
consider that the fulfilment was meant for a later time.
The Gospel of Mathew links the name Imanuel to Jesus but
Jesus never for once referred to Himself as Imanuel. Nevertheless, here are
four issues for your consideration:
1.
With
the name difference and difference in meaning, it is difficult to accept without
question that Jesus and Imanuel refer to one and the same person if we wish to
be objective.
2.
The
two Personalities: Jesus and Imanuel appear to be linked to the Almighty
directly as Envoys coming from Him! In Matthew 3:17 we are told that at the
baptism of Jesus a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased!” Jesus the Son of God later on promised that another like Him
will come who is the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit.
3.
The
Holy Spirit and Jesus are the two Parts of the Trinity of God that have been
active in Creation. In the book of Revelations a most revealing part of
scripture, two Personalities also appear. So in Revelations 5:13 we read: Then I heard every creature in heaven and on
earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To
him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and
power, for ever and ever!”
4.
Certainly
most can decipher who the Lamb is. The Lamb is Jesus the Son of God! Can the
other Personality described in the book of Revelations be Imanuel, the Son of
Man, the Holy Spirit?
Think seriously about this and do not rest till you have
resolved this matter yourself because the time for this has come!
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