Jesus
DALLAS WHITE
Scripture Readings:
Matthew 1:18-25
The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
John 10:10b
I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
John 20:31
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Acts 4:12
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.
John 14:1-4, 18-21
Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.” 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. 21 The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”
Revelation 22:20
He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
Commentary:
Something About That Name
Elvis. Reagan. Hitler. All of these names evoke some sort of emotional response. Why? Because a name represents the character of the person who carries it. This is why Proverbs says a good name is better than great riches (Proverbs 22:1); your name encapsulates the essence of who you are.
When God’s Son was born, He was given the name Jesus. His earthly father, Joseph, was instructed by an angel of the Lord to assign him this name, because He had come to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). This was to be His life’s purpose. Many things may come to mind when we hear this name; healing comes in His name (Acts 3:6), prayers are answered in His name (John 14:14), demons flee at the mention of His name (Mark 16:17), but do not make the mistake of believing that these things, as good as they are, are the essence of His name.
No, nothing should be more significant than this: He came to save his people from their sins. And the Bible teaches that there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). The salvation offered to us in Jesus isn’t available from anyone else. That’s why Jesus is the name under which every knee will one day bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:9-11).
Eternal life is only possible to the extent that one believes Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, sent to make a way for sinful people to be reconciled to a Holy God (John 20:31). This is why Peter encouraged his hearers to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38). Promising that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, because as Paul wrote to the Romans, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 5:13).
There’s Something About That Name (Bill & Gloria Gaither)
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There’s just something about that name.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Let all Heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there’s something about that name.
Indeed, there is something about that name and that something is our salvation!
Prayer & Reflection:
Jesus, we worship you as the one and only way for us to be made right with God. We recognize that apart from you we have no hope of reconciliation, by according to your mercy you have saved us, we have been redeemed and as a result, we worship your name as the name above every other name. Your name is our strong tower; we run into it and are saved! Praise the precious and matchless name of Jesus!