She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
Choosing a name for a newborn is quite the job. Deciding on a family name, a Bible name, a name describing character, or even a place – yes, finding the right name is a chore. And sometimes the parents don’t agree, or want to wait until the child is born, waiting until a little personality is shown.
NAMES
Meeting people, it seems each just fits his/her name. Rocky, is well, just the right name for Rocky. Or Belle, she's beautiful and couldn't be called Bertha - it wouldn't fit! The saying, “a rose by any other name wouldn’t smell as sweet,” nails it. Calling a rose a thistle or dandelion wouldn’t conjure up the same sentiments, nor the smell and the memories.
Discovering the meaning behind your own name can be enlightening, as well as the intent of your parents in naming you. It might be a grandiose gesture, or something as simple as a parent liking the name.
We are told in Matthew Jesus was named before He was born. His Name was picked out for Him. An angel of the Lord relayed that information to Joseph taking the guess work on what to call this special child - a child conceived by the Holy Spirit.
In looking at Isaiah 7:14 –
Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.
The Hebrew name Immanuel means “God with us” and Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy.
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.
John 1:14 (MSG).
Jesus came from heaven, His rightful place, and dwelt among us. Incredible. God did indeed, come to us. He is not a far-off God. He bridged the gap. He Himself gave the sign of the miraculous birth, as well as His name - Immanuel.
According to Blue Letter Bible, Jesus is Iesous in Greek and it means, “Jehovah is salvation.” His name is used 975 times in the New Testament. Jesus has a Hebrew origin, Joshua or Jehoshua, meaning, "Jehovah is salvation," or "Jehovah-saved."
Our Father in heaven named His Son the perfect name describing what Jesus would do for mankind. Save us. And boy do we need saving.
Just exactly do we need saving from? The angel told Joseph in Matthew – our sins. We are born into sin, we sin the minute we get up in the morning, and no one has to teach us to sin. At least, I did not sit my children down and instruct them how to be selfish and use words like, mine, me, no, give me. They captured those words on their own. Pretty amazing, that.
Jesus lived up to His Name and died too. His redemptive work on the Cross was the cumulative work of His sojourn on earth. As He hung on the Cross He became sin, was the sacrificial lamb and the atoning sacrifice for us. All this was accomplished because of God’s Sovereignty and will.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise Him, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived.
Luke 2:21 (NIV)
It is interesting to note who is giving the name – we are told an angel. And where do angels reside? In heaven, with God Himself. Angels are messengers, giving the same message of Jesus’s name to Mary, Joseph and those at the Temple at the time of His circumcision.
So, what does this mean for us? Jesus was born over 2000 years ago. Yes, He did move into the neighborhood, but it was Bethlehem, Nazareth, Capernaum. Far-off places in the Middle East. How does that apply to me? You?
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and,
Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives (notice verb tense) to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25
Jesus lives up to His Name. He is saving us from our sins and giving us eternal life with His Father (John 3:16). Jesus came to point us to the Father, He came to make a way of salvation for us because we deserve God’s wrath as He is a holy God and we cannot be in His presence. But with Jesus being our righteous cover, we can be in God’s Presence.
That little babe, born in Bethlehem did indeed come to earth and He moved in. He did bring salvation and showed to a lost and dying world, that God indeed, is salvation.
Are you willing to believe? Do you already? Can you honestly say Jesus has saved you from your sins? Do you know God is salvation?
PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your Son Jesus. He does save us form our sins and He lives to intercede for us - for me. Jesus talks with You, Father, about me and He came to free me from eternal death and my sins. His Name means JEHOVAH IS SALVATION and I am very thankful for His Name. There is something beautiful about that Name. AMEN