253: Immanuel, God With Us

Biblical Counseling Podcast

The season of Christmas is a memorable time for many people. The special holidays and decorations accompany festive gatherings and events, especially those events centered around the incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Yet, some people do not see Christmas as a time of celebration but a season of pain. Consumer Christmas and social media consistently remind us about the items we lack or the events we missed. Many people experience Christmas as a season of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. What truths can we remember during the Christmas season and the rest of the year to fight against depression, isolation, and worry?

In this week’s episode of the Biblical Counseling Podcast, Pastor Jeff Christianson draws the listener’s attention to one of the greatest miracles ever performed: the incarnation. The Christmas season is a special time for reflecting upon the descent of the Son of God into our fallen world as God’s Son took on human nature. Fully God and fully man, Jesus Christ is Immanuel, God with us. Pastor Jeff reminds us that the truths of Christmas should stagger us. Not only did the Son of God humble himself in an unfathomable manner, he promises to remain with us and abide within us. Jesus says in John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Biblical counselors must remind counselees of God’s amazing promise to abide in his people forever. Christ’s condescension and his perpetual identification with us in our humanity will forever bear witness to Christ’s continual presence among his people. All other religions propose that we may dwell with God only after producing enough works to gain his pleasure; only Christianity speaks of a God who dwells among the lowly and secures as salvation at his own expense.

At Christmas time, many sing the beloved hymn “O Come, O Come, Immanuel,”

O come, O come, Immanuel,

and ransom captive Israel

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel

shall come to you, O Israel.

There are many people who struggle with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression from being isolated from others. They may feel as if they are mourning in lonely exile. For example, many people who survive suicide attempts concede that they felt alone and believed that no one cared about them. While biblical counselors cannot promise to make themselves available to every counselees whenever a need arises, counselors can point counselees to the one who never leaves them nor forsakes them. The truth of Christ’s perpetual presence among his people comforts the distressed soul. Furthermore, counselees can find repose from the fact that Christ understands feelings of loneliness and isolation, as he experienced abandonment of his friends at his most pressing hour. Struggling Christians can identify with their crucified savior who intimately knows the feelings of loneliness.

Christians are responsible for making themselves available to those around them. During the business of the holiday season, events and checklists can overshadow real people who need company or a phone call. This holiday season or any time of year, who needs the comfort of your presence? Who needs your condescension into the mess of their lives? As Christians, do we model Christ’s willingness to open himself up to the pain and suffering of others at the personal cost to himself? We who are rich in Christ, do we make ourselves poor out of love for others?

Want to learn more? Listen to this podcast to hear Pastor Jeff address:

• An explanation and application of Jesus’s name, Immanuel

• An analysis of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the holiday season

• An encouragement toward making yourself available to the promptings of the Holy Spirit for ministry opportunities

Jeff Christianson

Biblical Counseling Academy

PO Box 3021Glenwood Springs, CO 81602

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