If you think about it, this verse doesn't sound right. What does this name Jesus got to do with saving His people from their sins?
The answer lies in the languages. It is a virtual certainty that Joseph spoke a dialect of Hebrew that is called Aramaic,- and only Aramaic. If the angel, speaking to him in the dream, used any other language, Joseph would not have understood what he was saying. The name, that Joseph was told to name the child, that Mary was about to bear, was Yeshua.
Names in Hebrew ( or Aramaic ) are very significant. They describe the person. For example Abram, means exalted father, while the new name given by God was Abraham, which means father of many nations. Isaac means laughter. Jacob means deceiver, while his new name that God gave him, Israel, means prince with God, etc.
Yeshua has three possible meanings. It can mean salvation, or the LORD is salvation, or simply savior. Any of the three can be justified, but I prefer the name savior.
Let's translate from the Aramaic what the angel told Joseph:
"...Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name SAVIOR, for He will save His people from their sins! "
I don't know about you, but that gives me goose bumps!
Every time that Joseph called his step son, he would call," Savior ". When Mary would call her first-born son to dinner, she would call," Savior ". And even more important - When John the Baptist, His followers, the scribes and pharisees, and anyone else, addressed Him by name, they called Him, Savior!
If anyone asked His name, He would reply," My name is Savior! "
In a way, it is sad that we have become so used to using the name Jesus, a form of His name, that is derived from the Greek. The true name of God's only begotten son is Savior. I wonder how many people would think of Jesus, only as a good man, if they knew His real name was Savior.
What of His last name? Christ is a form of the Greek word, Christos, which means anointed, or messiah. Now we have His complete name, Savior Messiah.
Our Savior confronted those of His day with the claim that he was, just as His name suggested, the Messiah, the Savior of the world.
To listen to that beautiful song, " No Other Name ", click here:
Today, our Savior is confronting you. He loves you so much that He died, in your place, on the cross, so that you could become born again, have your sins forgiven, and when your days on earth are done, join Him in heaven. He is waiting for a response from you.
I receive many prayer requests. Many are from people who are trying to be christians, but are unable to conquer a certain sin, or bad habit. These need to be truly born again. Many times they have been deceived by false teaching into thinking that they have been born again based on some act, or church membership, or prayer. Only God can give you a new heart that desires to serve Him.
Now is the time to seek God diligently and ask Him to give you a new heart,- one that no longer desires to sin. Then worship Him every day. Read His word every day. And as often as you can, fellowship with other Spirit filled born again christians.
" But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
No Other Name
Have a nice day. May God bless you, and your family!
To learn more about Jesus' return, click here:
Jesus is Coming Back Soon