Jesus

JESUS

 

"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." (Luke 2:7)

 

Sometimes a name is just a name, and sometimes it is a perfect description of reality.

 

The ancients were much more inclined than we are to choose names carefully so as to make a lifelong statement about a person's identity.

 

"Jesus" is a name so familiar to us it could easily escape our notice that it was an ordinary name with extraordinary significance that an angel announced should be the name of Mary and Joseph's new child. And what a name!

 

In his lifetime Jesus was called Jesus son of Joseph (Luke 4:22; John 1:45, 6:42), Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 10:38), or Jesus the Nazarene (Mark 1:24; Luke 24:19). After his death he came to be called Jesus Christ. 

 

Christ was not originally a name but a title derived from the Greek word christos, which translates the Hebrew term meshiah (Messiah), meaning “the anointed one.

 

 "Jesus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew "Joshua" which means "the LORD saves." He does indeed.

 

This title indicates that Jesus’ followers believed him to be the anointed son of King David, whom some Jews expected to restore the fortunes of Israel.

 

Call him Jesus, because he will save people from their sins.

 

None of us can save ourselves anymore than a person sinking in a rowboat can save himself by pulling up on the side of the boat.

 

We don't need to wait until Good Friday and Easter to celebrate the savior.

 

The saving started at the birth of Jesus.

 

Dear God, 

Help us to focus on the greatest gift of all this season, and the whole year through. Thank you for sending your one and only Son, that we might be saved through Him. In the powerful Name of Jesus. Amen