Emmanuel is the story of the oppressed Israelites who are yearning for God to be with them in their time of need. Angels tell a maiden named Maryam and her fiancé, Yusef, that they will bear a miraculous son, who will be Emmanuel (God is with us). The couple travels to Bethlehem where the baby boy is born into poverty. Shepherds travel to bear witness to the newborn and join the angels in rejoicing.