"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
—Matthew 1:21
Names are significant. The name that parents choose to give a child often expresses their parental hope and expectations for that child’s future being. For example, a baby girl named “Grace” will hopefully grow up to be a woman who is graceful and kind; a baby boy named Earnest will hopefully grow up to be a man who adheres to the truth, and nothing but the truth.
Expecting parents typically spend weeks, if not months, searching diligently through baby name books until they find the perfect sounding name—the one which best describes the parents’ aspirations for their unborn child. In certain circumstances, however, that which begins as a simple act of nomenclature can easily turn into a monumental task. Especially since it’s now estimated there are over 750,000+ baby names from which to choose.
But one name in particular stands out among them all. For His name is divinely chosen, and bears an eternal significance for all of humanity. The name is “Jesus.” At the moment of Jesus’ miraculous conception, God the Father “highly exalted” His Son and gave Him “a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11; also see Luke 1:30–31).
The name, Jesus, literally expresses heaven’s good news that “God Saves” (see Matthew 1:21). His name extends to every lost sinner on earth the hope of forgiveness, and reconciliation. The hope of becoming a new and glorious creation. The hope of eternal salvation, and blessed assurance. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
“We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!”
FURTHER READING: Matthew 1:18–25
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