And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 KJV
Before the birth of Christ, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was pledged to marry Joseph, a descendant of the house of David. However, when Joseph found that Mary was expecting, he considered ending the relationship quietly. Joseph was a just man. He did not want to embarrass his soon to be bride, but he knew that he was not the father of the child.
Conceived of The Holy Spirit
After Joseph considered these things, the bible tells us that an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. In Matthew 1:20, the angel said to him, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. WEB” The verse from Matthew 1:21 immediately follows.
This unusual circumstance was predicted through prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 which reads, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. WEB” Immanuel means “God with us” or “God is with us.”
Joseph placed trust in the message he received in his dream and decided to keep his wedding vow. When Mary gave birth to a baby boy, the couple called his name Jesus.
The Name of Jesus
The name Jesus is a form of the Hebrew name Joshua which means “God saves,” or “Yahweh saves.” When naming the child, choosing to call his name Jesus, Joseph and Mary reveal Jesus’ purpose as God in the flesh come to save sinners from condemnation. Jesus’ name is prophetic of God’s plan for the salvation of mankind.
Jesus fulfilled God’s plan of saving us from our sins as he healed the sick, preached repentance, and showed the way to eternity with God. We celebrate the birth of Christ as proof of God’s love for humanity. Specifically, that God gave us the gift of his Son.
Over two thousand years ago, a virgin gave birth to a baby boy. Like his mother and her husband, the faithful call his name Jesus, the Son of God, our Savior, God with us.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for my Savior. I call his name Jesus Christ. Thank you for receiving me as a member of your holy family. Keep each of us safe this season. Lead us to live lives that are pleasing to you. Thank you for your love, and the hope we have in eternity with you. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: God Is Love
