What is in a Name

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about ~ His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, 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.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25 

Did you notice Joseph and Mary did not choose a name for their new baby? I have witnessed people choose their baby's name in a variety of ways; some consult books of baby names, others search their genealogy, while others look for unique spellings for the name of their child. Everyone want the perfect name for their child.  Mary and Joesph did not have the opportunity to choose a name. Scripture tells us God named their son for them;  "you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

I can think of four reasons why God chose the name Jesus;

• Jesus is an EASY NAME – it has 5 letters and two syllables, a child may have trouble with his own name – but early on he can say Jesus.
• Jesus is an ENDURING NAME – There is no name better known in the history of the world – the song says it best “Kings and Kingdoms will all pass away but there is something about that name”
• Jesus is an EXALTED NAME – Philippians 2:9-10,   Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
• Jesus is an EXCLUSIVE NAME – When the angel said to Joseph, before the baby was born, you shall call him Jesus, he then added this phrase; for he shall save His people from their sins. Acts 4:12, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

May the name of Jesus be on our minds and our lips as we celebrate this Christmas season.