Today, we are going to answer this question: How is “God with us” today?

Yesterday, we followed the glory cloud, the Old Testament form of Immanuel, “God with us.” After the fall of Jerusalem in 587 b.c., the ark and glory cloud seem to have disappeared. But there was a period of restoration under Zerubbabel. Ezra and the last group of Jewish exiles under Nehemiah rebuilt the temple and restored worship in approximately 530 b.c.

Unfortunately, the ghastly curse of sin permeated the people again. Tithes were ignored, the Sabbath was broken, priests were corrupt, and the Israelites intermarried with foreigners. Yet God remained faithful and sent the prophet Malachi, whose name means “my messenger.” Malachi convicted the people of their sin. He pronounced them guilty yet reminded them of this promise: “For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays” (Malachi 4:2).

Four hundred years of silence ensued. While under the oppressive rule of Herod the Great, the Jews experienced relative peace—the Pax Romana. During this time, the faithful were dispersed throughout Judea. Separated from the temple, they established synagogues in their communities, where they worshiped and taught their children the Old Testament Scriptures. The Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, and Gentiles populated the countryside. This would become the fertile ground where the fire of the gospel would ignite and spread. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

In one of these small towns, Immanuel chose to return. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2). This ruler, King Jesus, born of a virgin, “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32).

Here’s the big picture: “God with us” is beyond comprehension. “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32,33). Yet he achieves it with a humble maiden, in a simple manger.

But how does he dwell with us today?

At Christmas, Jesus came to earth to establish his kingdom. At the perfect time, he became human. During his life on earth, Jesus was crucified and died. But then, three days later, he returned to life and was seen by some 500 witnesses before ascending to heaven. He left his Holy Spirit to dwell here, in each of us. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). In our baptisms, we are his; through saving faith, his presence is now made known through Word and sacrament.

“God with us,” Immanuel, reigns forever!