The name, Immanuel, contains an implied contrast between the
presence of God, as exhibited in Christ, with every other kind of presence,
which was manifested to the ancient people before his coming. If the reason of
this name began to be actually true, when Christ appeared in the flesh, it
follows that it was not completely, but only in part, that God was formerly
united with the Patriarchs.
Hence arises another proof, that Christ is God manifested in
the flesh, (1 Timothy 3:16.) He discharged, indeed, the office of Mediator from
the beginning of the world; but as this depended wholly on the latest
revelation, he is justly called Immanuel at that time, when clothed, as it
were, with a new character, he appears in public as a Priest, to atone for the
sins of men by the sacrifice of his body, to reconcile them to the Father by
the price of his blood, and, in a word, to fulfill every part of the salvation
of men.
The first thing which we ought to consider in this name is
the divine majesty of Christ, so as to yield to him the reverence which is due
to the only and eternal God. But we must not, at the same time, forget the
fruit which God intended that we should collect and receive from this name. For
whenever we contemplate the one person of Christ as God-man, we ought to hold
it for certain that, if we are united to Christ by faith, we possess God. (Commentaries)
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