Person of Emmanuel

Though “Emmanuel” is given as the Lord’s title in Matthew, we must look in John for the exposition of this title. The first eighteen verses of the first chapter of John’s Gospel present Christ Himself as an introduction to the story of His ways of grace and power.

How right this is, for upon what He personally is hangs all the blessing for you and me. Had He been less than what this Scripture shows Him to be, His work could not have availed for us, His blood could not have cleansed us. His being what He was—“Emmanuel”—was as the altar which sanctified the gift of that holy life surrendered up to God.

—F.W. Grant