Down to Earth: A Christmas Devotional JourneySample

Day 11: The Name

Reflection

It’s the big moment for the Angel Gabriel in every primary school nativity play (even though He’s not named in this passage!). "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus!" Then Gabriel and Joseph totter off stage. End scene.

But we’ve missed out on the key part of the verse! 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.

The Latin name "Jesus" has the same root as "Joshua". Both come from the Hebrew Yeshua, which is made up of two halves. Firstly Ya, an abbreviation for Yahweh, which is how God describes Himself. And secondly Yasha, a verb meaning "to be rescued" or "to be saved".

Put together, the Name Jesus literally means "God saves". And what does God save us from? The Angel is clear. God, in this down-to-earth Child, will save His people from their sins.

When we know this Name – really, know, believe, and trust in this Name – everything changes. Our daily work takes on new meaning. We find Grace we never knew we might have for strained familial relationships. And we start viewing people we encounter in our community with great mercy – just as God views us.

Prayer

God of The Rescue, help me, as someone who knows Jesus’ Name, to become affected by it in every part of my life – in how I treat people, in what I value, and the way I work and the way I pray. Amen.