MONDAY December 13, 2021
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
Remember, after hearing the salutation of the angel Gabriel, Mary was troubled and unsettled in her thoughts. God had given to her an amazing message, she had found favor with God, and although a virgin, she would conceive in her womb the Son of God. This miracle would be a fulfillment of Scripture found in 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.
Imagine, humble Mary, a young teenager, had been chosen to carry Jesus in her womb. The Jewish people knew the Scriptures and understood by them, their Messiah would be born. In a part of the “Song of Mary” (Luke 1:54-55), we find that Mary knew about the prophecy of the coming Messiah: “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.”
Mary’s child was to be called JESUS. In Hebrew His name was, Yehoshua, shortened to Joshua, which means “Yahweh is salvation.” What was the purpose of His birth? The name JESUS relates His mission––“for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
Jesus did not come only to be the Savior for the Jewish nation, but for the salvation of the Gentiles––you and me.
Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.
~C. H. Spurgeon~
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