Call Him Jesus, Savior
Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes. You are engaged to the love of your life and she comes up pregnant, and you know you are not the father. Then she comes up with this wild story about some angel and God and being overshadowed and conceiving. You set there, broken hearted, asking yourself, “How can I ever believe that story?”
He went to bed thinking on these things and trying to decide what he would do. In his sleep an angel appeared to him and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Then he understood. Mary was telling the truth and this child would be born of the Holy Spirit.
The message from the angel to Joseph was two-fold. First, it was to confirm that he was to be married to Mary. The second was that the name he was to give the child was Jesus. He was to be called Jesus because he would save his people from their sins.
Jesus, just the sound of the name brings comfort to those who believe. The name simply means “The Lord has become my salvation.” Jesus brought with him the hope all men have; that they can be lifted up from the morass that life has become and be reconciled to peace with the God of heaven.
The prophecy given by Isaiah some 700 years before his birth was coming to pass. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” – Which means, “God with us” (v23). God himself became man so that man could be reconciled to God. The hope of the world was carried in the womb of a virgin.
Who is this one who dared to let others call him Lord? Who is this one who, without force, has established his kingdom in every corner of the globe? He is Jesus and he rescues us from our sins. Hallelujah!
Prayer: Lord, I have heard, I have believed, and I have received Jesus the Christ of Redemption. Thank You for the opportunity. Amen.
Message: The name "Jesus" simply means “The Lord has become my salvation.” Jesus brought with him the hope that all men have; that they can be lifted up from the morass that life has become and be reconciled to peace with the God of heaven.
Affirmation: Jesus, my Lord, my Savior has lifted me out of the life I once had and has given me a brand new life; eternal life. I've been born again.
Reflection: "The Lord has become my salvation." What a promise! Every time we speak his name we are affirming that the Lord God himself has become our salvation. Give some thought to what that actually means to you.