5.04.2012

Bookends

This past week in my Greek class, we discussed something that I had never seen before. The strange part was that this was in plain English not Greek. It had to do with bookends and the Gospel of Matthew. If you look at the Gospel of Matthew, you will see that it starts with the coming of Jesus to the earth.

"See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel" (Matthew 1:23 HCSB)>

Immanuel (sometimes seen as Emmanuel) means "God with us." Jesus was (and is) God with us. Right there in the middle of our hectic lives, crazy situations, and joyous times. God with us.

If you go to the very last verse of the Gospel of Matthew, you will see the other bookend.
"... teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20 HCSB)

Matthew closes his gospel of Jesus with the reminder that He is always with us. Immanuel = "God with us." May we remember this as we go through the days ahead. When we have to face those difficult situations, Jesus is with us. When we get "bad news", Jesus is with us. When we receive a great blessing, Jesus is with us. Everywhere we turn, there He is standing to remind us of His love and how He has it all under control.

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