The community of Proto-Isaiah were living at a time where on the one hand desolation, bleeding of wounds, bruises and sores, cities burnt, injustice and complicity are thriving in their land (Isaiah 1: 7) and the other where we see people’s burnt offerings and incense as an abomination in the sight of God (Isaiah 1:13). This Proto-Isaiah community were about to go into an exile, unto an Assyrian rule, and so fear, hopelessness and uncertainty is all over the place among the residents in Jerusalem and Judah. And into such a context Proto-Isaiah pumps in confidence by offering hope to the community. Isaiah 7:10-17 is one such texts of hope that Proto-Isaiah prophecies with a promise of Immanuel, which is ‘God with us,’ strengthening the community to recognise in all their ups and downs, in all their fears and fragility, and in all their uncertainties, God is journeying with them.
In the Matthean text about Jesus’ birth (Matt 1:18-25), Matthew explains the setting that there is stigma and public disgrace attributed for Mother Mary since she is bearing a child without living with Joseph with whom she was engaged. On the other hand, the writer explains that Joseph was trying to play ‘holy’ without exposing Mary to public disgrace and is planning to dismiss Mary quietly. I am not sure what does being ‘righteous’ mean when one is not able to care, support and embrace a partner who being branded by the society to public disgrace and who is struggling in her life with all her vulnerabilities? In such a context, the angel of God appeared to challenge and comfort Joseph to stand by Mary at her difficult situation, for paving the way for the birth of Jesus, the saviour and the Messiah of the world. To celebrate and affirm this Jesus’ birth event, Matthew recalls and retells the Proto-Isaiah’s prophecy from 7:10-17 that a young woman shall bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us,’ offering hope and confidence to Joseph, Mary, the first century Jewish audience to whom Matthew is writing his gospel and to all the readers of the text today.
The promise of Immanuel unsettles the transcendence of the divine:
Both in Proto-Isaiah and in Matthew’s contexts, the divine was always understood as transcendent, away from the frailties of human suffering, untouched and undisturbed. The promise of Immanuel in both their contexts unsettles the divine of their transcendence and affirms in the immanence of the divine as ‘God with us.’ With the promise of Immanuel, the postcode of God is shifted to be ‘with us’ and ‘among us.’ Advent is a season of waiting, waiting for the Word becoming flesh, afresh, in our contexts. God in Jesus pitching God’s tent and dwelling among the mortals is the fulfilment of such a promise of Immanuel into a reality. The promise of Immanuel is neither a construction of a theoretical abstract nor a wishful thinking about the idea of God, rather is practical and transformative that began with the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour and the Messiah. God once for all unsettled from the terrains of transcendence and pitched God’s tent/dwelling as Immanuel forever and ever to be with us and with the creation.
The promise of Immanuel challenges us to witness and ‘with-ness in our context today:
The sign of Immanuel was a breath of fresh air to Isaiah and Matthew’s contexts, for they have been awaiting and longing for the divine to be with them offering courage and hope. So, what is the relevance of believing, affirming celebrating the fulfilment of the promise of Immanuel in Jesus Christ today? Perhaps, the call for us is to witness God, the Immanuel by being ‘with’ people in their struggles offering hope and striving for justice and peace.
In the context of the cost-of-living crisis skyrocketing, and with the rising poverty and hunger, the promise of Immanuel is witnessed by sharing our resources, by giving up greed, by not wasting food, by not succumbing to the pressures of market which calls us to buy more and more and by advocating for just policies ensuring alleviation of poverty. The promise of Immanuel is witnessed by being ‘with’ people on the margins, in solidarity of them and working with them for justice and liberation.
This season of Advent, let us remember people who are subjected to public disgrace due to their identities, of gender, colour, caste, race, religion, region, sexuality, language, and belief. The promise of Immanuel, God with us, can only be real, when we offer unconditional care, love, acceptance, respect, dignity, equality and solidarity with people who are publicly disgraced. If we are using our religion and God to be awful towards others, excluding others, hating others and stigmatising others who do not believe like us, who do not belong where we belong and who do not look like us, then we are a disgrace to the promise of Immanuel, God with us.
Love is the only way forward, and ‘with-ness’ is the only witness that we can offer to people and creation in our neighbourhoods. Imagine how this Immanuel is being with us? Despite our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, our Immanuel God always loves us, journeys with us and leads us forever. So, let’s celebrate the fulfilment of the promise of Immanuel in Jesus Christ and let’s live up to the values of the Gospel of Jesus Christ more meaningfully, relevant for our time and context. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Raj Bharat Patta,
United Stockport Circuit, UK.
15th Dec 2022
