When you’re having a baby, one of the great tasks before you is choosing the name. Nowadays the job can be easier, because many times the parents know the gender. But names are very important!
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My wife and I knew knew how important names were to children. When we adopted our children, we gave them the opportunity to take whatever name they wished. One changed their first name, one changed their middle name, and one asked if he could become a “Junior” taking both my first and middle names. Each time my wife became pregnant, we determined to ask the Lord what name He had for the child in her womb. He was always faithful, and provided a clear choice. It caused a bit of consternation with our relatives and friends, since most people who are uncertain of the gender of the new baby will typically choose two names – one in case it is a boy and another in case it is a girl. Even though we had no medical idea regarding gender, we only chose one name.
The verse we have for today tells us:
SHE WILL HAVE A SON, AND YOU ARE TO NAME HIM ‘JESUS’ FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS
The angel spells it out for Joseph. It’s a boy, here’s the name, here’s why. Period. No questions, no discussion. Done.
Names often carry meaning. You can see that in boys names like Baker and Hunter , or in girls names like Summer or Daisy. Jesus’ name actually means SALVATION, or YAHWEH SAVES. Or, as Isaiah put it, “Immanuel” — God with us. Jesus is the God who saves us.
Jesus was literally God come in the flesh. He was fully God and fully man at the same time. Our human minds have a very difficult time understanding how that can possibly be. and so this truth, like many others revealed in the scripture, is called a “mystery” – something we cannot fully comprehend now. Paul the Apostle promises that, even though we only see dimly now, the time will come when we do understand fully. Until then, we accept what God says by faith.
But the word of the angel – YOU ARE TO NAME HIM ‘JESUS’ FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS – is clear. HOW the entire process works is actually more complicated than I can begin to explain. THAT Jesus will save His people from their sins is evident. Understanding the WHY is the only easy part — He loves us so much. But precious little else in the realm of salvation “makes sense” except for the love Jesus displayed for us.
SHE WILL HAVE A SON, AND YOU ARE TO NAME HIM ‘JESUS’ FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS
Jesus didn’t come to overturn a government, not even the heavy-handed Roman Empire. Jesus didn’t come to establish a new school of philosophy or theology. Jesus came to save His people from their sins.
The angel said SHE WILL HAVE A SON – and she did.
The angel told Joseph YOU ARE TO NAME HIM ‘JESUS’ – and he did.
Only the final part of the verse remains.
The angel announced that HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS – and He did. The cross and the empty tomb bear witness to that fact.
The only question that remains to be answered is this :
WHO ARE “HIS PEOPLE” ??
Who are the ones He will save from their sins?
Thankfully, Paul the Apostle makes that quite clear. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord WILL BE SAVED.
This Christmas …
Make sure that you are among the ones who are CALLING UPON HIS NAME.
Make sure that you are one of HIS PEOPLE.
SHE WILL HAVE A SON, AND YOU ARE TO NAME HIM ‘JESUS’ FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS
