Christmas is just a few short days away. I love it. Christmas is one of two main holidays that Christians celebrate. Easter is the other holiday and it is in many ways more important, less celebratory, but more reflective. I love both and what they mean for me as a Christian. Christmas and Easter are linked from the very first Christmas. Part of that link is one of the things that seems odd when we read the Christmas Gospel. The Angel tells Joseph to call the child “Jesus” and then references the prophecy of Isaiah that says his name will be “Immanuel”.

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:21-23 ESV

Immanuel

I am familiar with the name Immanuel because it is part of the Christmas tradition every year. One of my favorite Christmas songs is centered around this name. It is an old hymn hundreds of years old even before being translated from Latin to English generations ago.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Matthew was kind enough to translate Immanuel from Hebrew for us so that we can know the name means “God with us”. Jesus being born of a virgin is God himself taking on the form of a man. God with us is a profound thing to contemplate. Could it be that the Creator of all things would limit himself to the physical form of a baby? God is giving himself as a gift to all people. Rejoice! Because a king is coming to restore Israel. A king is coming to set right all the wrongs. A king is coming to provide the ransom to those in captivity. Matthew in the opening genealogy of chapter 1 takes extra care to make sure the audience knows that Jesus is linked to king David and Abraham as the rightful king of Israel.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1 ESV

Immanuel or Jesus?

If the prophecy said the son’s name would be Immanuel then why did the Angel instruct Joseph to name the baby “Jesus”? The Angel hints at the reason by telling Joseph exactly what this baby will accomplish in life.

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 ESV

Jehovah Saves

This baby who is God with us will “save his people from their sins”. God has come, Rejoice!, to save people from their sins. If God coming to earth in the form of man is profound then God coming to earth to save humanity is even more amazing and that is a nod to the future reflective holiday in Easter. What is required of Jesus in order to save his people, the ransom to be paid, comes at an extreme price.

Jesus is not a random name. The Angel was instructed to provide this name because this name also reveals more of God’s intention for Immanuel.  Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation”. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Yĕhowshuwa`” which means “Jehovah saves”. Matthew’s audience would have understood Jehovah to be the formal name of the one true God. The name Jesus literally means “God Saves” and Immanuel is the promise that God is present and God has not abandoned his creation. Do not believe those that think God does not exist or that God is not an active participant in this life. God is with us now and God is actively involved.

Salvation belongs to the Lord [Jehovah]; your blessing be on your people! Psalms 3:8 ESV

God With Us

Jesus is God and Jesus saves. Jesus will save people from their sins. The Angel as a messenger of God is revealing the next step of God’s grand plan to restore Creation and to reconcile people. This baby we celebrate today will save us tomorrow. Does this king know you? Will he count you numbered in His kingdom? Dear reader if you have not already done so now is the time call on Jesus “God Saves”.

Thank you for reading. I pray you enjoyed this Christmas message. Next up read Christmas gift giving by Jesus.