We invite you to join us this Christmas in meditating on a few of the wonderful names of Jesus as seen in the Advent prophecies of Isaiah 9:6 and Matthew 1: 21 – 23. (The names from these passages are in bold and our devotional thoughts are in italics.)

Jesus often claimed to be the Mighty God. In John 8: 58 – 59, Jesus told the Jewish leaders, “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!” They picked up stones, attempting to kill Him for claiming to be God. Paul tells us in Colossians 1:15 – 17, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Nothing is too difficult for Him.

Jesus is the Everlasting Father. Jesus promised, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) And when one of His followers asked, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus replied, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Jesus reassures us that through Him we can know God as our Father.

Immanuel means “God with us.” John, a close follower of Jesus, describes Him this way in John 1:14, “And the Word (Jesus) became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” God came to live among us; He is as close as a prayer.

Jesus means “Jehovah saves” and clearly indicates the purpose for which our Lord was born. This name (related to the name “Joshua”) was hand-picked by God for His own dear Son. The angel announced to Joseph, “You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Later, in Acts 4:12, Peter proclaims to the rulers of Israel “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” He was born to die, and through His substitutionary death, He offers us a meaningful life now and eternal life in His presence.

Isaiah 11:1 – 2 prophesizes that Jesus would rise from the royal line of David and that “the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” He is our Wonderful Counselor through life’s journey.

In our world of troubles, Jesus is our Prince of Peace. He promised in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

We hope these reminders have encouraged you as you prepare to celebrate Christmas. When we give our gifts to our loved ones, we are rejoicing in the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.

May you experience His presence and His peace this Christmas,
Mike and Sus

NOTES:

• ART: La Nativité by Louis Cretey
• For more of my Christmas posts:
  • The  Names of Jesus
  • Faithful and Watchful for the Lord to Come – Lessons learned from Simeon and Anna
  • I have quite a few on my blog, The Sovereign. Click here to choose from all the posts, or go to these select posts:
    • Our Lives, Our Worship, and the Incarnation of Christ with practical applications to our lives
    • Notice the names of Christ in Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
    • Martin Luther composed From Heaven above to Earth I Come to teach his children on Christmas Eve.
    • The Origin of Nativities