40 Names of Jesus in 40 days of Lent — Day 14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

—–

 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
²³ “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us).

Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22-23 ESVUK

There are two spellings, Immanuel from the Hebrew and Emmanuel from the Greek. Some English translations use the I spelling in the Old Testament and the E spelling in the New Testament, while others use either the I or E spelling alone. Not that it makes any difference, both mean Immanu (With us) El (God), God is with us.

But Mary and Joseph did not call their son Immanuel. Matthew’s Gospel says an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to name Mary’s son Jesus (Matthew 1:21). Luke’s Gospel says an angel appeared to Mary and told her she would conceive a son and she should call him Jesus (Luke 1:31). I shall be explaining the name Jesus in April.

Immanuel, God is with us. From the moment of Mary’s conception by the Holy Spirit God has been present on Earth, first through Jesus and then through the Holy Spirit poured out on the Church. God is with us, loving us, leading us and correcting us.