What’s in a name? We had a friend named Raymond Lee. When he was young, he told us that when he had children he would name the first Ug and the second Home. After he really had children his wife had different ideas about that. We name our children names which represent attractiveness, strength, or virtue. Not too many people give their children negative names, although I did hear of someone named Ima Mess.

In these twelve verses written about Jesus’ birth, we will see that the baby is given five different names or titles. Each one tells us something different about the Messiah who was born in that lowly manger in Bethlehem.

The first name given to the baby is the one we know best - Jesus. The Greek word used here for Jesus is based on the Hebrew yehoshua which means Yahweh saves. Even from the moment that he came as a baby, Jesus’ name indicates that God sent him and that he came to earth to save. The angel tells Joseph that "he will save his people from their sins."

As we think of all the blessings of Christmas and the joy of family, gifts, and holiday cheer, let us not forget that Jesus came to save us from our sins. His very name tells us his mission. His very name tells us that he was sent from God as God’s Christmas present to each one of us willing to accept this divine gift of love.

MacDonald comments, "This child of destiny was Jehovah Himself, visiting earth to save people from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, and eventually from the very presence of sin."

Matthew is quoting from Isaiah 7:14. The Hebrew name there is Immanuel which literally means "God with us" as Matthew translates it. Jesus came to be God dwelling among us. As John so beautifully describes in John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father."

God did not want us to think of him as some awesome force keeping his distance from the everyday life of people. God wanted to put a face, a touch, a voice on earth that we could relate to. So he sent his son to be God with us. By doing this, God helped us to understand how much he truly cares about us. We no longer think of God as some distant creator. Rather we think of him as an imminent savior. As much as we appreciate the sacrifice and the ministry of Jesus, let us not forget that it is God who sent his son to us. It was God who was willing for his son to suffer and die so that we might be saved.

It was the father’s duty to name his son at birth. So it fell to Joseph to name the son of God. As the angel had instructed him, he called his name Jesus, which as we have discussed means "God saves." We know that Joseph was not around for Christ’s earthly ministry, so it is difficult to know how much he understood of the ministry of this little baby that he named. But it seems to me he must have had some insight as to what it meant to name the baby "God saves."

When we think of the Christmas season, we think of a tiny little baby lying in a manger. But we need to understand that there is more than a baby in the Nativity scene - there is God’s salvation. The baby would one day grow up and give himself as a sacrifice for our sins so that we might be saved. That’s why I find pictures of the drummer boy or Santa Claus bowing in the manger so inappropriate. Jesus represented more than a gift and more than a holiday. The shepherds came to Jesus and understood this significance. They came to worship the one who was to be the Savior. The wise men also came to Jesus and understood the significance of Christ’s birth. They came to worship the King of the Jews.

This little baby was God’s salvation to the world. When we think of Christmas, let us remember the significance of the name. Joseph called his name ... Jesus. He did that because Jesus was God’s salvation for all of humanity.

In the first few verses of chapter 2 we have the story of the wise men coming from the east. They approach Herod and ask him concerning the king of the Jews. Jesus came as the promised king to sit on David’s throne. Isaiah 9:6-7 promised, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."

We celebrate the baby in the manger at Christmas and we celebrate the suffering Messiah at Easter time. But Jesus also came as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is now sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven and some day will come back to earth to reign as king.

Not only does Jesus save us and deliver us from the curse of sin, but he also has all the power of the universe at his disposal. Jesus is our savior, but he is also our strength, our comfort, and our protector. The little baby in the manger has grown up to be the king. What royal favor do you need from the king? Go to Jesus. He will hear your request and answer your prayer.

Barnes talks about the expectation of a coming king prevalent at that time, "There was at that time a prevalent expectation that some remarkable personage was about to appear in Judea. The Jews were anxiously looking for the coming of the Messiah. ... Many Jews at that time lived in Egypt, in Rome, and in Greece; many, also, had gone to Eastern countries, and in every place they carried their sacred writings, and diffused the expectation that some remarkable person was about to appear. Suetonius, a Roman historian, speaking of this rumor. says: ‘An ancient and settled persuasion prevailed throughout the East that the Fates had decreed some one to proceed from Judea who should attain universal empire.’ Tacitus, another Roman historian, says: ‘Many were persuaded that it was contained in the ancient books of their priests, that at that very time the East should prevail, and that some one should proceed from Judea and possess the dominion.’ Josephus also, and Philo, two Jewish historians, make mention of the same expectation. The fact that such a person was expected is clearly attested."

The chief priests and scribes called him the Christ and knew where he was to be born. The Greek word Christos is used for the Hebrew word meshiyach and both words mean "anointed one." Jesus was the promised Messiah who was specially anointed by God. He was not only a king; he was an anointed king. He was God’s own son chosen from the foundation of the world to carry out this very task of salvation.

Not only was Jesus anointed, but he has also sent each one of us the Holy Spirit so that we might also be anointed by God. We certainly are not anointed in the same way that Jesus was, but we are all anointed to service, we are all appointed to minister, we are all chosen to obey, we are all empowered to witness, and we are all filled with God’s Spirit.

Jesus is also called a ruler. Today he rules in our heart. Some day he will return to rule and reign over all the earth. As Revelation 11:15 tells us, "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever."

But for now, Jesus is ruling in hearts. Colossians 3:15 says, "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful." Jesus wants to rule in your life. He wants to help you through your days and give your strength for the journey. He wants to guide you and speak peace to your soul. Have you allowed Christ to have rule in your heart?

During this Christmas time do you only see Jesus as a helpless baby in a manger? He is so much more than that - he is the ruler of our souls and will some day rule over all kingdoms and nations and peoples on this earth.

As we think of the Christ Child during this holiday season, let us not only think of the tiny baby. But let us remember the names of Jesus and let us not forget all that these names and titles mean.

Jesus - God who saves us,
Emmanuel - God with us
King - the mighty sovereign of the universe
Christ - the anointed one
Ruler - the one who rules in our heart

This study on Matthew 1:20-25, 2:1-6 © 1999 by David Humpal, all rights reserved.

All scriptures unless otherwise noted are from the Revised Standard Version © 1971, A. J. Holman Company

MacDonald: Believer’s Bible Commentary, New Testament volume, pg. 22 © 1990, Thomas Nelson Publishers