The Evangelist lifts the wonderful (hopeful) message of a birth of a child (Isaiah 7:14) and applies it to the miraculous birth of Jesus in a barn's manger (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7). The link is made in the name given to the child - Emmanuel, which means God-is-with-us. Jesus as Emmanuel, travels with us in solidarity through all the ups and downs of life (and I mean all of them!) Jesus never leaves, forsakes, or gives up on us. He is by our side at every moment from birth to death to beyond. He is always faithful and always loving. Jesus as our Emmanuel.
