Name - Advent Day 24

 An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.   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 1:20-21 (NIV)

 

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  Perhaps Mr. Shakespeare did not view names as “special” to an individual?  The soliloquy is memorable, however think of the poor school child named Bob…one of 5 in his classroom.  Or, would a tomato taste as sweet if we renamed it, Garlic?

Name, it’s about who we are, something that defines us.  We tend to grow into our name.  C.S. Lewis wrote, 'There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.'  Fortunately, Eustace matured beyond the name in Lewis’ book Voyage of The Dawn Treader.

Jesus, meaning save or deliver, was named by the Angel, Gabriel.  Jesus’ name was his task…his life’s direction.  He took on a human body to save humans from sins.  His calling, if you will, was His Name.  The tiny baby was given a magnificent destiny in the Name…Jesus!

His birth was prophesied for hundreds of years as was His raison d'etre, His reason for being.  He was simply, The Savior.  Think of the many encounters Jesus had with individuals…healing, encouraging, bringing back to life, feeding…He did it all.  Yet, His primary mission was to save his people from their sins.

Guess what?  We are his people.  We have been grafted into the family…He loves us…and He came to save us!

The Name?  Jesus!  Savior!

Name…God promised!  

Advent – God is coming to us.

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