EMMANUEL

This is adapted from a short talk I gave at a carol service at St Mary Redcliffe this Christmas. Every time I said ‘Emmanuel’- the congregation were asked to respond:

 ‘God with us!’

I believe, One of the most important things to remember about Christmas and what it means, is this word:

EMMANUEL.

God with us!

For me, this sums it all up.

God came down, in human form to be WITH us. To be in the midst of the brokenness, the darkness, the pain, the mess, the human chaos. Emmanuel, God with us.

And with that, there comes an invitation for us, to come and see.

Just as the shepherds were invited to come and see. The stargazers, or the wise men, were led to ‘come and see’. And meet Emmanuel.

When the baby Jesus grew up and was teaching people, healing them and spending time with those on the margins…. Just for a few short years before he was crucified,

there is one amazing story that I think links to Emmanuel.

A man named Zacchaeus, who was a greedy tax collector, and well known for cheating people and taking far too much for himself, he wanted to catch a glimpse of Jesus when he came to town. It says in the bible story that he was short and he couldn’t see Jesus above the crowds , so he climbed a sycamore tree to watch from there.

But Jesus notices the things going on at the edges, where no-one else is looking, and he noticed Zacchaeus in the tree. He goes over to him and he invites himself to tea, at Zacchaeus’ house that day! And as a result of that moment,  when Z is seen by Emmanuel, and he encounters Jesus, Z immediately climbs down, and rushes home to host him. He turns his life around, and gives the money back to those he cheated.

There was also a sycamore tree in the news last year- I don’t know it you remember it. It was illegally cut down and there was huge outrage and upset from many people.

But I saw recently that the National Trust have turned this situation around for good, and have managed to grow new saplings from the seeds of the tree. These young trees are called ‘saplings of hope,’ and are going to 49 different worthy causes around the country.

They have said:

‘Each sapling carries a message of hope with it as it starts a new chapter, not just for the tree, but for all those who will receive a sapling next year.’

And the reason I am talking about Emmanuel, and these saplings of hope tonight, is that when we realise that we have the opportunity to invite Jesus into our hearts with the promise of God WITH us, we become like these little sycamore saplings, carrying a message of hope wherever we go.

So if one of those images is helpful for you to take away with you this evening- maybe this Christmas you are a curious Zacchaeus, who wants to invite Jesus into your home and heart,

Or maybe you are a sapling, carrying a message of hope to the places you go, and exist in- your homes, families, workplaces, your neighbourhoods.

Both of these are reminders of Emmanuel. God with us!