The Baby’s Name Will Be Jesus

When our grandchildren were born, we were taken into the room to see them and introduced. Chad and Sara made a big deal of introducing and naming our grandchildren. Mary and Joseph didn’t have to have this conversation. They had no question about what they would call this child!

The angels who visited Mary and then Joseph told them both that the baby’s name would be “Jesus.” (Matthew 1:20-21) The angel who appeared to Joseph explained that this name indicated the baby would “save his people from their sins.” He would be called “Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14) which means “God is with us.” This baby would be God in human form – deity wrapped in swaddling clothes. The prophet Isaiah also called Jesus – “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) because Jesus would be all these things.

King Ahaz of Judah, threatened by the armies of Israel and Syria, refused to trust God and instead turned to Assyria for help. (II Kings 16:7-9) God assured Ahaz of victory by giving him the ultimate proof: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (“God with us”). (Isaiah 7:14) God promised to be with His people if they would only trust Him.

It’s always exciting to name a new baby, but no other baby had ever had such a world-changing name as  “Jesus who is called the Messiah.” (Matthew 1:16) What a thrill for us to be able to “call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 1:2) Acts 4:12 says there is no other name that saves.

This is Christmas Week! Let’s all gather at church and praise His holy name!

Prayer – Thank you, heavenly Father, for sending us One who is our Prince of Peace, our Messiah, and our Lord and Savior. We celebrate His birth because we know that His life and death and resurrection purchased eternal life for each of us. Amen.

Isaiah 7:14 – “The virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Author: The Rev. Tommy Herndon
Image: Myriam Zilles, courtesy of Unsplash