Trusting in the Name

By Danny Saavedra

“And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21 (NLT)

Throughout our journey, one thing we’ve clearly seen is that God chose to use some very unique, unexpected, and “unqualified” characters—each of whom are in Jesus’ lineage—to bring us to this point in the story. From prostitutes to pagans, from kids to kings, the range of people God worked through definitely varied in all areas, except one: they all trusted and believed in Him.

The people God entrusted His only begotten Son to were no different. They seemed like a strange fit to raise the Savior. After all, Mary was a young peasant girl who wasn’t even married yet (Luke 1:34), and her fiancée Joseph was a poor carpenter whose family came from Bethlehem, a town considered “too little to be among the clans of Judah.”

But when Gabriel told Mary she’d have a child through the Holy Spirit, her response reveals exactly why God chose her. In Luke 1:38 (NLT), she says, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true . . .” She knew no one would believe her, that this would likely be a scandalous and dangerous thing for her, but she trusted God. She believed in Him and His Word. She surrendered her life, will, and future into His hands. Mary trusted in the name of Jesus! 

Joseph was also in a difficult position when he found out Mary was pregnant. In that society, pregnancy before marriage was a serious offense, and if word got out, it would’ve spelled major trouble for Mary. But Joseph was a good man, a righteous man who loved God, like his forefather David. So he decided to protect her by ending the engagement privately and discreetly. But then, an angel came to him and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20–21 NIV). 

How far are you willing to take your obedience to the Lord? What happens when God tells you to do something difficult, troublesome, or inconvenient? Do you answer the call or let it go to voicemail? 

How did Joseph react? He was obedient and took Mary as his wife. Joseph’s courage and obedience is not to be trivialized. This was a life-changing decision on his part. He could have played it safe and sent Mary on her way, but he didn’t. Instead, like Mary, Joseph trusted in the name of Jesus!

When it comes to being part of God’s family, it’s all about trusting in the name of Jesus. In Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT), it says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” So, no matter what we face, no matter how insurmountable, impossible, or unbelievable our circumstances, if we trust in the name of Jesus, we’ll never be disappointed. 

Tomorrow night is Christmas Eve, a day we can reflect on Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and celebrate the coming of our King. Take some time today to read through Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2 on your own or with your family, so you can relive their obedience to God and God’s faithfulness to us!