An appropriate name

You shall call His name Jesus. — Matthew 1:21

The name of the southeastern Asian nation of Indonesia is formed by combining two Greek words which together mean “island.” That name is appropriate because Indonesia is made up of more than 17,500 islands spanning nearly 750,000 square miles. Indonesia — an appropriate name for a nation of islands.

In the Bible, we find that people were often given names — sometimes at birth, sometimes later — that made a statement about them or their character. Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement,” continually encouraged those he encountered. Jacob, whose name means “schemer,” repeatedly manipulated people and situations for his own selfish ends.

And no one has ever been more appropriately named than Jesus. When the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph about Mary’s soon-to-be-born Son, he told Joseph, “You shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

Jesus means “the Lord saves” and defines both who Jesus is and why He came. He was also called Immanuel, which means “God with us” (1:23). His name reveals our eternal hope! — Bill Crowder

How sweet the Name of Jesus

sounds / In a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrow,

heals his wounds,

And drives away his fear. — Newton

READ: Matthew 1:18-25

The name of Jesus is at the

heart of our faith and our hope.