“…They will call him Immanuel.”

–Matthew 1:22

Immanuel. The Hebrew word means “God with us.” The eternal Creator of the universe stepped out of eternity past and into space and time. The designer of human anatomy limited Himself to a human body to one day allow that same body to be beaten and bruised on our behalf.

Ancient words often leave us confused. Immanuel should not be among them. Immanuel is the clearest expression of love available, for it communicates Someone greater coming to someone lower for the purpose of love. When God came to us, He revealed His love. When we share in life “with” others, we too reveal His love to them. God with us becomes God in us and through us as we share this unparalleled love.

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DILLON BURROUGHS is an author, activist, and co-founder of Activist Faith. Dillon served in Haiti following the epic 2010 earthquake and has investigated modern slavery in the US and internationally. His books include Undefending Christianity, Not in My Town (with Charles J. Powell), and Thirst No More (October). Discover more at ActivistFaith.org.