Scripture: Isaiah 7:14 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.”

Tim, Nathan, and Bruce evoked fear in the high school students among us. Any one of the trio was a threat; together they were even more menacing. One evening at a party, I was called outside to “meet with them.” I went, but not without anxiety and fear.

Something happened, however, that brought me relief. Paul, a confident senior, came outside with me. His presence was a game-changer.

In Isaiah 7, Judah’s King Ahaz was faced with a coalition that shook him and his people to the core (vv. 1-2). But God had a word for him, “Tell him he doesn’t need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers” (v.4).

God also had a sign for those paralysed by the presence of invading forces: “The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means, ‘God is with us’)” (v. 14). The sign was the birth of one whose name meant “God is with us.”

Roughly seven centuries later, the gospel writer Matthew saw the birth of Jesus as a fulfilment of this prophecy (see Matthew 1:23). The life and ministry of Jesus was a game-changer, demonstrating what things look like when God is with us. Life changes for the weary, anxious, and fearful. Forgiveness is granted to all who receive this amazing gift. — Arthur Jackson

Oh, did you know?

One of the most common questions that non-Christians ask about Christianity is, “How can a good God allow suffering in this world?” Sometimes, we don’t get an easy explanation as to why we suffer. But Christ sees us and suffers with us. The gift of Christmas is an ever-present God, who stoops down to join us in the struggle and who is willing to die for us, so that we have hope and eternal life.