Christ is born: the God who is with us

22) Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23) “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us.”

Matthew 1:22-23, NASB

At home with us

God being among humans is the most consequential of all divine initiatives.  In Eden God’s desire to be with humans is unfulfilled and disturbing because humans shun God’s presence.  One of the outstanding pronouncements in the end of the age is  “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,” (Revelation of John 21:3b, NASB)

In the birth of the Christ-child God begins his investment in the salvation of humans by entering the stream of human life.

God-with-us changes our view

The prophetic contribution consists of writing things with which he had no guarantee of intimate knowledge.
Mary’s unusual conception is not a prophet’s sign and wonder.

A chaste and pregnant woman is a rebuke to the proud religious people in every age.
The baby brings GOD within reach of humanity, removing the barriers that had defined divine mystery all over the world.

All previous and subsequent revelations of God are contained within the functions of prophet and messenger and guru, priest and shaman, but not this baby.  This is fraught with risk.  The prophet can choose to presume to interpret or simply say what God tells him or shows him.

18) I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19) It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. (Deuteronomy 18:18-19, NASB)

When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:22, NASB)

Jewish observations do not help.  A man cannot make himself God but God can become man. What better way could there be to realize a human-divine solidarity than
God in human flesh!

Along with the name Jesus (Salvation) the child is to be known as Immanuel.  Imma (with), nu (us), el (God) opens the door for humans to experience God in an unprecedented way.  He used to be identified by pillar of fire and pillar of cloud, by a voice issuing from the inner room of the sacred tent.  The thought of God living in a single human would become one of the reasons for conflict with Jewish authority.
The grown up Christ would be accused of making himself equal with God. This accusation lands him in court, accused of blasphemy.  The death penalty hangs over him, but he dies of his own accord and takes it back so he can guarantee God’s presence with anyone who wants it.