{ADVENT DEVOTIONAL} BORN FOR THE BROKEN- Jesus, Emmanuel
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Jesus Emmanuel, Full of Grace and TruthAdvent scripture reading: Luke 2:15-20, 22-35John 1:14“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”Jesus is WHY we celebrate this season.So it’s only fitting for the last of our Advent devotions to look at Jesus and his name Emmanuel, which means God is with us. Mind-boggling, isn’t it? His name does not mean, “Far distant from anything you’ve ever experienced.” His name does not mean, “inaccessible and out of reach.” His name does not mean, “apathetic towards your hard circumstances.” No. Jesus' very name assures you that even though He was both fully human and fully God during his time on earth, He IS with you. Always. In everything you’re going through. Jesus left his heavenly dwelling to live among us. Though He IS the King of kings, he did not choose to be born of royalty in a palace or into a family of status. Instead, he chose to be born into a common family, his birthplace an unglamorous humble stable. Because of this, Jesus experienced all human frailties during his time here on earth. Beginning as a baby through the growing up years he was dependent on his parents. He experienced hunger, thirst, and pain. He was tempted in every way but did not sin. John 1:14 tells us: Jesus Emmanuel experienced deep emotions just as we do. As someone who feels emotions deeply, this brings me great comfort. Jesus doesn’t just comprehend our human emotions at some detached theoretical level. BUT…. Jesus in his human form actually EXPERIENCED empathy, grief, anger, and rejection. The deep sorrow and grief you feel, Jesus felt it too. When his friend Lazarus died Jesus grieved. He first empathized in sorrow with his friend Mary, Lazarus's sister. John 11:33 says, Jesus himself then wept over the death of his friend Lazarus. Though Jesus knew that he would raise him from the dead he still felt the human emotions of grief. The righteous anger you feel or indignant feelings over someone's hard heart, hurtful behavior, or choices, Jesus felt it too. The Bible says that Jesus felt and expressed anger. Jesus was often angry with the religious leaders; “grieved at their hardness of heart” ( Mark 3:3-5; Matthew 21:12-13) He even became indignant with the disciples when they rebuked those who brought the children. (Mark 10:13-16) The rejection, abandonment, or loneliness you feel, Jesus felt it too. Jesus was repeatedly rejected and even abandoned by his disciples. But perhaps the strongest emotion he felt was loneliness. He felt the worst loneliness on the cross when separated from the Father. I believe the heavy emotion and sorrow he felt in the Garden of Gethsemane was partly from knowing the separation and loneliness he would feel on the cross. Yet in all these emotions Jesus experienced he still maintained the “ full grace and truth” of his Godly being, something our humanness finds very difficult and sometimes impossible. (John 1:14) He came to be our example. And also to be the sacrifice for our transgressions—the transgressions we face when we don’t handle our emotions as well as he did. As we continue to navigate through the holiday season — and all of the emotions it entails — let us remember Emmanuel.
Call on the name of Jesus — Emmanuel — to help you through each and every emotion. He knows what you are feeling, and His sacrifice covers all! Because He was born for us, the broken.
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| YES, I WANT THE ADVENT SERIES |
Hi there, I'm Melissa!
I equip women who want to cultivate their life and home with God-honoring and holistically healthy rhythms. Subscribe to my email newsletter or check out my latest resource to help equip you and your family to live your best and healthiest life.