[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 21/Dec/2025]
I was interested to see during recent services that each Advent candle was given a name when it was lit. We’ve also received a Christmas card this year with four named candles on the front – peace, hope, love, joy.
Every Advent I find that one word, like the words for those four candles, repeatedly speaks to me with a message that I need at the approach of Christmas for that time. The word for me this year is one of the names of Jesus, “Immanuel, which means God with us”.[1] Like all Christians, I find it hard even to begin to comprehend the glory, power, holiness, wisdom of an eternal creator, let alone that He should be interested in us as we live in the backyard of His immense universe.
Perhaps that is why Immanuel has meant so much to me this Advent. Jesus was willing to leave the overwhelming glory of His heavenly realm and humble himself to come and live in this world as an ordinary human being, but at the same time as God. He was able to enjoy His creation and all the wonderful things He made to bring us joy and happiness. But He also allowed Himself to experience all the suffering and pain that we experience, even to death which He alone did not deserve.
Jesus said that He came to show us the Father, and by His presence He showed most of all God’s love for us. John, the best friend of Jesus while He was on earth said these words:
God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him”
1 John 4 v9 [NLT]
Let’s worship Him at the manger as a baby this Christmas, and when He comes again we shall adore Him as Immanuel, truly God with us.
May you receive the love, joy and blessings of Jesus by His presence at Christmas and for the future.
Resources:
[1] Matthew 1:23
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Last Sunday’s reflection: The Honest Truth of Christmas by Martin Shorey
Contributed by Michael Goble; © Michael Goble