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 dreams 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 NIV)
It’s a big responsibility to pick out someone’s name. Many of you have done that with your kids. Picking out someone else’s name is a big responsibility, because the name you choose sticks with that person their whole life. A lot we do as parents fades away. But the names we pick? They last! There are so many things to consider: A short name or a long name? A Bible name or a family name or a popular name or a unique name? Should we look up what it means? Do we pick it just because we like the sound? It’s a big responsibility to pick out someone else’s name!
If it’s a big deal to pick out people’s names, imagine how big a deal it is to pick out God’s name. That’s what happened at Christmas. God’s Son was born, and we know that God’s Son is true God with God the Father. So, what name should God have? It was a big responsibility to name Mary’s Baby! Have you thought about this? What name should God have? There were already a lot of names for God in the Old Testament. We talked about some of them in Bible study recently: Yahweh or Elohim or Adonai or Shaddai. Any one of them would have worked, right?
On top of that, the Bible is filled with descriptions of what God is like. God is almighty. God is eternal. God is everywhere. God is wise. God is perfect. God is just. Every one of those characteristics of God could have turned into his name. If you were to name God, which attribute of God would you focus on? His power? His size? His perfection? His wisdom? What should be God’s name? It would have been a big responsibility to pick out God’s name!
Thankfully, Mary and Joseph didn’t have to decide. The angel told Joseph exactly what to name Mary’s Son. What was it? Jesus. That name wouldn’t have been unusual. Jesus is the Greek way to say the Hebrew name Joshua. Remember who Joshua was? Joshua was the great leader who followed Moses, led the Israelites into the Promised Land, and conquered Jericho. He was a good guy to name someone after! Many people did. Historians say that in the 1st century, the name “Joshua” was the 6th most popular boy’s name in Israel. Jesus would fit right in! In fact, there are three other men named “Jesus” just in the New Testament. That sounds like a good name! Jesus.
But the angel made sure Joseph knew why God chose that name “Jesus.” It wasn’t nostalgia for Israel’s past. It wasn’t because the name was popular. It wasn’t even because it was a good biblical name. It was because of what the name means. “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” The name “Joshua” in Hebrew means, “the LORD saves.” People today wonder what Jesus’ purpose was. Did he come to set a good example? To solve the problems of society? To change politics? No! If there is any doubt about Jesus’ purpose, just look at his name! Jesus. Savior. “He will save his people from their sins.”
This is important! Remember how we said that God has so many characteristics? Powerful. Eternal. Everywhere. Wise. Perfect. Just. Of all that God is and of all that God is able to do, what does God most want to be known for? Saving. Of all that Jesus is and of all that Jesus does, what does Jesus most want to be remembered for? Saving. Dying on the cross for the sins of the world. “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Notice what Joseph didn’t say in response. The angel announced that Mary would give birth to the Son of God who would save people from their sins. Notice what Joseph didn’t say: “Sins? What sins? What are you talking about?” See where I’m going with this? Isn’t that how people would have reacted today? “Save us from our sins? Why? Why not a banker? I could use more money. Why not a president? We could always use a better one of those! Why not a quarterback? Our team could use an upgrade! A Savior from sin? Really, God? Is that what we really need?” Know who didn’t say that? Joseph. He got it. “A Savior from sins? That’s just what I need!”
That’s striking because Joseph doesn’t seem like the type of person who needed a Savior. Did you hear how Joseph is described? He’s called “faithful to the law.” Another way to say that would be “righteous.” Joseph was a righteous man. You can see that in his treatment of Mary. Even when it seemed like his fiancé had cheated on him, he didn’t seek revenge. He didn’t let jealousy control him. Instead, he planned to divorce her quietly, so that she wouldn’t be harmed. Joseph was the kind of man you’d want your daughter to marry. Joseph was the kind of carpenter you’d want to build your house. We don’t hear anything negative about Joseph in the Bible.
But do you know what? He still needed a Savior. And he knew it. Even the “best” people need a Savior from sin. Even the most “religious” people need a Savior from sin. Like every one of us. You know it. Your heart is weighed down by your sin and your guilt and the million things you wish could undo but you can’t. They weigh down your heart. Everybody needs a Savior from sin. When you look around, it’s tempting to think, “That guy’s got it all together.” Or, “I wish I had her life.” Or, “She seems to be so good.” Is that true? No. We all need a Savior from sin.
So treasure Jesus’ name. God could have chosen any name for himself. God could have emphasized any part of all that he is. And what does God want to be known as forever? “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” That’s just what Jesus did. He took all our sins on himself and died on the cross. He paid the penalty that we deserved. He saved us! Treasure Jesus’ name. When your heart is broken for what you’ve done, “Jesus is my Savior!” When you’re worried about what you deserve, “Jesus is my Savior!”
Know what that means? You are forgiven. You are forgiven! When people accuse you, you are forgiven. When you feel so worthless, you are forgiven. When it doesn’t seem like you can do anything right, you are forgiven. When you fear death and hell for what you’ve done, you are forgiven. When life seems like a mess of your own making, you are forgiven. There’s no doubt about it. Why? It’s his name! Every time you hear “Jesus,” you can know, “I am forgiven.” Why? “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
There’s a special place that the name Jesus shows up in the Bible. On Good Friday, there was a man who used the name “Jesus” exactly as it’s meant to be used. Do you know who it was? The thief on the cross. Remember what he said to Jesus? “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). What was he asking? “Jesus—Savior—save me!” And what did the Savior say? “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus saved him! There is no name like the name of Jesus. When you hear it, remember: Jesus is my Savior. I am forgiven!
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