The coming of Jesus fulfills the prophecy written by Isaiah: “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Later, Matthew’s gospel tells us what this strange name means: God with us.
The name of God’s son indicates plurality. It’s “God with us”, not “God with me.” Sure, God wants and has a relationship with each of His children individually. The equal truth is that He came to dwell within a community of His followers, as part of relationships of humans who put God at the center. As an anaology, He refers to Himself as the head of a body comprised of many members.
We see this principle throughout the Bible, where the word “you” most often signifies a group, rather than a solitary believer. It’s like that phrase we use in the south – “y’all.”
Observation and experience reveal that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to be a spiritual lone ranger. And the reason is that disciples going solo were never God’s intention. He came to be with “us.”