SATURDAY December 5, 2020

His Name is Jesus

But when she saw him [the angel Gabriel], she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.”
Luke 1:29-31

After hearing the salutation of the angel, Mary was troubled and unsettled in her thoughts. The angel Gabriel reassured Mary; she had found favor with God. The angel Gabriel gave an amazing message to her. Mary, although a virgin, would conceive in her womb a Son, and she was to name Him––JESUS.

The Jewish people knew the Scriptures and understood by them, their Messiah would be born. Mary, a humble, young teenager had been chosen to carry Jesus the Messiah in her womb. The miracle of the virgin birth would be a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel”––God with us.

Mary magnified the Lord and rejoiced in God her Savior in what has become known as “The Song of Mary” (Luke 1:46-55). Within these verses she voiced her personal knowledge of the prophecy of Christ: “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever” (Luke 1:54-55).

Mary’s child was to be called JESUS. In Hebrew His name was Yehoshua, which can be shortened to Joshua, meaning “Yahweh is salvation.” The wonderful name of Jesus reveals to us His mission––“for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus came to be Savior, not only of the Jewish nation, but to give salvation to the entire world.

Like Mary, people around the world should be singing for joy!

Weak is the effort of my heart, and cold my warmest thought; but when I see Thee as Thou art, I’ll praise Thee as I ought. Till then I would Thy love proclaim with every fleeting breath, and may the music of Thy name refresh my soul in death!
~John Newton~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!