At our Christmas Day service, we looked at some of the names given to Jesus (somethng we have been doing with the children at Sunday school over recent weeks, decorating Christmas baubles to remind us of these truths.)
Mary and Joseph were not given any option as to what their baby should be called; the name ‘JESUS’ means ‘The Lord saves‘ and reminds us of His primary reason for coming to earth.
He is also known as CHRIST or MESSIAH, meaning the ‘anointed one’. Chosen by God for a special task of deliverance, Jesus came to fulfil God’s purposes for salvation.
He is also known as IMMANUEL, meaning ‘God with us’, the visible reminder of what God is like (see John 1:18). God’s presence with us every day reminds us we are never alone.
Other names include the GREAT HIGH PRIEST (see Heb 2, 4, 10), reminding us of the fact He has bridged the gap between us and God and still lives to intercede for us (Heb 7:25) and SON OF MAN, SON OF GOD. He is both fully human and fully God, THE WORD MADE FLESH. (John 1)
One title remains to be fulfilled, that of KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev 19:16) The final battle may yet to be fought, but we know that Jesus is the Victor and can therefore acknowledge what a beautiful name that is and how there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. (Acts 4:12)
