You Shall Call His Name Jesus

by Mitchell Tan
February 24, 2022

SEEING THINGS ONLY FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE

The birth narratives of the Lord Jesus are truly wonderful and enlightening. They help us not only appreciate the miraculous conception of the Lord Jesus but also the great and significant role that He would play in God’s plan of salvation. They also help us to appreciate how the Lord God would use individuals like Mary and Joseph to bring about the execution of His plan. When Mary was with child, Joseph, being the just and noble man that he was, wanted to secretly divorce her so that she would not be publicly shamed. It must have been a most confusing time for him. He could not see beyond his own human perspective of things. And while he was still thinking, an angel of the Lord appeared to him to help him see the bigger picture. This baby that Mary was carrying was much more than an ordinary baby. He was going to be the Saviour of the world.

SEEING THE DIVINE PERSPECTIVE WITH REGARDS TO BABY JESUS

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph to help him see things from a divine perspective. This would be signified by the names that would be given and associated with the Lord Jesus.

1. JESUS – THE LORD JESUS AS ONE WHO BRINGS ABOUT SALVATION TO ALL

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21

The angel of the Lord gave very clear instructions concerning Mary’s baby. Joseph was specially chosen to be the father of this baby because of his lineage. He was considered a son of David. He was to take Mary as his wife and to name the baby JESUS. When Joseph did this, even though he was not His biological father, he was legally His father. Jesus would be the Son of David (Matthew 1:1). The name “JESUS” comes from the Hebrew name “Joshua”. It means “God saves”. The Lord Jesus is going to be the Saviour of the world. He had come to bring about redemption for both the Jews and the Gentiles. He had come to save us from our sins.

2. IMMANUEL – THE LORD JESUS AS ONE WHO BRINGS ABOUT GOD’S PRESENCE TO ALL

“‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’”
Matthew 1:23

The Lord Jesus being born of a virgin was in fulfilment of Scripture. This quote was taken from Isaiah 7:14. This virgin would bring forth a Son and they will call Him Immanuel. The Lord Jesus was not formally named “Immanuel”. However, it would be a name that all can appreciate with regards to His ministry. Because of the Lord Jesus and His work on earth, they would experience the comforting presence of the Lord God. They would be able in their heart to relate to Him as “Immanuel”. This promise of the presence of the Lord would bring a special sense of comfort in our lives through Christ.

OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD’S WORD

“Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.”
Matthew 1:24-25

Joseph was a good and righteous man. He courageously did what the angel had commanded him to do. He took Mary to be his wife and did not have any sexual relationship with her till after the Baby was born. He obeyed the Lord’s word and followed through with it. Nine months later, Joseph fully obeyed the words of the angel and named his new born Son JESUS.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

1. FOR SEEKERS

Let’s go beyond our own human perspective to seeing Jesus with a divine perspective. He had come to this world to save us all from our sins. We can have salvation in the name of the Lord Jesus. Let’s seek to accept Him as our Saviour. Let’s call upon Him and believe in His name. We can enter into a special relationship with the Lord Jesus.

2. FOR BELIEVERS

We thank God for His special presence in our lives. As we go through the challenging situations in life whether it is having the Covid virus or facing death in the family, let’s trust in the Lord that He will be with us and He has not left us alone. His presence would bring a special comfort to our hearts. Let’s also seek to know the Lord’s word and to keep it. When we fear the Lord and keep His word, the Lord God and His peace will be with us.

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