“You Are To Name Him Jesus”
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah
took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but
before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy
Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and
unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
But just when he had resolved to do 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 as
your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will
bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save the people from
their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord
through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they
shall name him Emmanuel.” Which means, “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital
relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
The birth of Jesus was the most
personal message we could possibly receive from God. God sent His Son Jesus to
save us. Jesus died on a cross for our sins. Jesus was a fulfillment of Old
Testament prophesy.
God Himself came to earth in the
person of Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. Nothing can be more personal
than that.
God reached
out to mankind with the arms of Jesus.