Immanuel

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-39

Every year, songwriters add new Christmas songs into the holiday mix. And, every year, most of those songs are quickly forgotten. If you check out the official ASCAP list of the most popular secular holiday songs, the newest one is from 1984 ("Do They Know It's Christmas?"). The vast majority are decades older.

The same is true for songs introduced by Christian artists. For every "Mary, Did You Know?" there are hundreds of fine new songs that you'll never hear. An exception to this rule is the song "Immanuel" by Michael Card. Published in 1985, this song continues to be sung in thousands of churches around the world, and for good reason.

"Immanuel" begins by focusing on the Christmas miracle of the Incarnation: "A sign shall be given, A virgin will conceive, A human baby bearing, Undimished deity." (What a fantastic line! I love Michael's writing. He's also a fine Bible teacher who has spoken at Laity Lodge.) But the Christmas focus of "Immanuel" takes a surprising turn in the refrain: "Immanuel. Our God is with us. And if God is with us who could stand against us?" The truth of Christmas is now seen in light of Romans 8 and the truth that if God is for us, nothing could be against us.

Romans 8 shows up again in the second verse of "Immanuel": "On earth there is no power, There is no depth or height, That could ever separate us, From the love of God in Christ." This is a poetic paraphrase of Romans 8:38-39: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." The miracle of the Incarnation at Christmas becomes, in the poetry of this song, a sign of God's matchless love, a love that will never let us go.

As you continue to reflect on the meaning of the Incarnation during the Christmas season, I would invite you to let Michael Card's wonderful song lead you into a deeper experience of God's love for you, a love demonstrated in the coming of Jesus, Immanuel.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: What helps you to believe that nothing can ever separate you from God's love in Christ? If you were to believe this to the bottom of your soul, what difference would it make in how you live each day?

PRAYER:

A sign shall be given
A virgin will conceive
A human baby bearing
Undiminished deity
The glory of the nations
A light for all to see
That hope for all who will embrace
His warm reality

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

For all those who live in the shadow of death
A glorious light has dawned
For all those who stumble in the darkness
Behold your light has come

So what will be your answer?
Will you hear the call?
Of Him who did not spare His son
But gave him for us all
On earth there is no power
There is no depth or height
That could ever separate us
From the love of God in Christ

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel. Amen.

"Immanuel" by Michael Card, Copyright © 1986 Birdwing Music (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing), Mole End Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing).

P.S. You can see a video version of "Immanuel," featuring Michael Card and Steve Green, here.

P.P.S. One of my favorite Christmas songs by a Christian songwriter is not what you would expect. It shows up on Sara Groves' delightful Christmas album, "O Holy Night." There, amid songs celebrating the deep truths of the Incarnation, you find a song that bemoans a very different kind of Christmas truth. The song is called "Toy Packaging," and you can see a funny video version of the song here.