Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His Name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called His Name JESUS. (ESV)
The Lord Jesus has authority over demons, disease and death – the three things that people fear the most. The reason why He has this authority is clear in the passage we read.
The Good News is good mainly because of who and what Jesus is as a Person.
The Name Jesus describes His office, and the Name Immanuel describes His nature.
- Jesus means ‘God is Saviour’. He would save His people from their sins.
Sin is falling short of God’s high standards of beauty, truth and righteousness. - Immanuel (Is. 7:14) describes His nature – God with us! This name shows us what happens when God becomes a Man. “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is. 9.6).
Jesus is God manifested in the flesh to save us from our sins. Has He saved you?