Meaningful Names

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Matthew 1:20 – 25

In these six verses Matthew records the birth of Jesus Christ. He gives us very little detail but still manages to communicate a great deal about this baby, this Messiah that the Jewish nation, who were Matthew’s intended audience, had been waiting for.

These verses give us two names for the Messiah. In the days of these events names were not just given but given with meaning. In God’s providence He tells us the names and the meanings. Joseph was told to name Mary’s son Jesus because He would save His people from their sin. Then Mary is told that her child will be Immanuel, God with us.

It had to be a difficult thing to believe that a baby lying in a manger would one day save His people from their sin. Mary and Joseph must have wondered just how that would be, what did it really mean? How was a helpless child to take on such a gigantic responsibility? What would it be like to raise a Son who is God in the flesh?

Though it wasn’t evident at the birth of Christ, God’s plan of salvation was now in place for man to see. The plan was to provide the sacrifice for our sin. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Because of this truth the birth of Christ is the tangible sign that God would not only make this requirement that we pay for our sin with death but He would also provide the payment in the death of Christ for those who would believe! What a generous gift! Let it sink in, God requires payment for our debt of sin and then HE provides the payment.

God sent His Son to be “God With Us” so that we would see His love for us. He gave us eternally living proof that He IS and we can know Him personally. Jesus lived a sinless life that is reported in written form for us so we would have evidence of God’s provision for our forgiveness, mercy and grace in a human body. He may have started this earthly life as a baby in a manger but He ended that life by giving it up when we should have given our own. This is the supreme act of love.

Of course, the best news about Jesus Christ is that His “being” didn’t end on the cross. He rose from the dead. He lives with us today. For those who have believed that His death paid the penalty for their sin He actually lives in us.

The celebration of His birth is upon us. Many won’t even get to read this because they will be too busy with the holiday festivities. Though it is His birthday, Jesus is left out of many celebrations. Though He was sent here with the title, Immanuel, God with us”, He has been excluded from many people’s celebrations. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me.”

Have you opened the door and invited Him to your house and into your heart this Christmas? He never refuses an invitation to join us and when He comes He will remain with us and He will save us from our sins, that’s what His names tell us. .

My Christmas prayer for each one who reads this is that you would know the forgiveness of sin that comes from a relationship with Him who came as a baby and has returned after His human death to be God with us. O that each one would truly understand the breadth, and length, and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God.

Merry Christmas!!