Call His Name Jesus

DECEMBER 24, 2024

 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS.” (Matt. 1:21)

“What a lovely name – this name called Jesus!” Hymn writer Jean Perry took up this theme in her well-known hymn, “That Beautiful Name.” This lovely hymn captures the reason of its beauty.

“I know of a name, a beautiful name,

That angels brought down to earth;

They whispered it low, one night long ago,

To a maiden of lowly birth.”

“I know of a name, a beautiful name,

That unto a babe was given;

The stars glittered bright throughout that glad night,

And angels praised God in heaven.”

“The one of that name, My Savior became,

My Savior of Calvary;

My sins nailed Him there, my burden He bare,

He suffered and died for me.”

The name of Jesus is especially beautiful because of what it means: Jehovah saves. Here the angel of the Lord secretly revealed it to Joseph, saying, “Thou shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” After the child was born, and the time was fulfilled when he was to be presented to the Lord, He was brought to the temple. There, the aged Simeon, a devout man who had long waited for the Consolation of Israel, took the baby Jesus up in his arms and praised God and said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace…For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.

The divinely chosen name was also revealed to the Virgin Mary by the Angel Gabriel. He appeared to her with this message: “Fear not Mary, for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.” (Luke 1:30, 31) Jesus isSavior, and what a glorious Savior. “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David.” (Luke 1:32)

Sadly, the Doctrine of Salvation (Soteriology) has been stripped of its true meaning among many. The Incarnate Son of God was given the name Jesus because He would save His people from their sins. It’s clearly an essential part of salvation is deliverance from sin.

God promised that a Deliverer was coming. “…as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” (Rom. 11:26; Isa. 59:20)

Jesus saves! As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us remember that the Angel Gabriel announced to both of His parents that His name would be called Jesus, for He would save (deliver) His people from (out of) their sins. It is salvation as the deliverance from sin that we would emphasize today. It is this that makes the name so beautiful, and precious to sinners like us.

Jesus delivers from the death of sin. Spiritual death is the natural state of every person because of sin. Death has passed upon men, for that all have sinned. (Rom. 5:12) Thank God, “The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.” Spiritual death is manifested in evil works; thus, salvation is deliverance from death and sin.

Secondly, salvation is deliverance from the love and practice of sin. This is not to suggest that the old sin nature is totally eradicated in those who are saved. However, all who are in Christ have a new nature, which is born of God. John says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” (I John 3:9)