Jesus, Name Above All Names

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

The name of the child Jesus means “Jehovah saves.” Jesus was a common earthly name. He was known as “Jesus of Nazareth.” It was the name given to Him when Gabriel made his appearance to Mary in Luke chapter one.

He is the sinner’s Savior. We sing in church, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know; fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.” Mothers have called on the name of Jesus when they have seen their sons and daughters go off to war. The mention of the name, “Jesus,” can calm a troubled soul or cause hardened sinners to repent of their sins as they call on that name above every name. One day, at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

That Jesus came into the world to save sinners is what the celebration of Christmas is about. Don’t miss the real reason for the season.

It Was Like This...

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately.” (Matthew 1:8-19)

Mary and Joseph were engaged. They were not like some today who live together in the fullest sense of the word before marriage. Mary and Joseph had entered into a contract that was binding on both parties, but they were not married. Couples did not live together nor did they share a bed-room before marriage.

Mary was found to be with child. Joseph knew the baby was not his. What should he do?  Joseph was a good man. He loved Mary. Stoning her for what seemed to be an obvious case of adultery was out of the question. The angel of the Lord came to Joseph and told him the child conceived in Mary was of the Holy Spirit.

It took much faith and courage for Joseph to accept the angel’s explanation, but he accepted it and raised Jesus as his own child. Joseph was part of God’s plan. His plan for you is to allow Jesus to be your Savior and Lord and follow Him in faith and obedience.

“For with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37)

God works in impossible situations. Abraham was a hundred years old and Sarah, his wife was ninety when their son Isaac was born. Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth and her husband Zacharias, were old and well stricken in years, the Bible says. But they would have a son and he would be called John.

Other impossibilities include the parting of the waters of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to leave Egypt. Then, there was the ceasing of the flowing of the Jordan River to allow the Israelites to go into Canaan and possess the Promised Land.

When the angel, Gabriel, told Mary, a virgin, that she would have a baby she asked, “How shall this be, since I am a virgin? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:34-35)

Are you facing a difficult or impossible situation? Nothing is impossible with God. Surrender everything, even your understanding or lack of understanding of the situation you are facing to God.  If you are facing eternity without ever having been saved, I encourage you to receive Christ Jesus by faith.

Accept the Virgin Birth of Christ by Faith

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin’s name was Mary.” (Luke 1:26-27)

Some folks find it difficult to believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. They say it is in the realm of impossibilities, that it is too much of a miracle to accept. However, if you believe in God you already accept a miracle, the miracle of God’s existence. God, who has no beginning and no ending, is in the realm of the impossible as far as this world understands.  

God made man of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. (Genesis 2:7) Then He took the man, put him to sleep, removed one of his ribs and from that rib he made a woman. (Genesis 2:21-22) that makes two human beings, neither one having a father or a mother. Then, that man and that woman produced a child in the same manner that you and I were made. That’s three ways human beings have been made. Why not a fourth way? Why should anyone not accept that a virgin could conceive and have a child without an earthly father? Why not, if God is involved?

One of the chief foundations of Christianity is the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without the virgin birth He would be just another natural man. I strongly believe in the virgin birth of Christ and encourage you to accept this miracle by faith.

Jesus Can

“And it came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought Him saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. (Luke 5:12)

Jesus is not a genie in a bottle that comes out and does His miracle of healing when we say the right words or touch Jesus in the right way.

Nothing is too hard for the Lord Jesus to do. The leprous man recognized Jesus’ ability to heal, but faith says, “I trust the Lord to do what is best.” God could have healed Paul the Apostle of his thorn in the flesh but chose not to, saying, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (II Corinthians 12:9)  As it turned out, the Lord chose to cleanse the leprous man of his leprosy, as He did many others of various diseases.

Will you be satisfied with whatever the Lord’s purpose is for you? If Christ will be glorified in your sickness or some other problem, will you trust Him? The song says, “Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way…”

Cast Out More Nets

“...Let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto Him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”

 (Luke 5:4-5)

Jesus was sitting in Simon’s boat, teaching the people who were on the shore. Simon was washing his fishing nets. Jesus gave the two pronged command to, first of all, launch out into the deep and second, to let down his nets.

Simon might have thought, “I’m the fisherman here. Jesus is a carpenter and a preacher-teacher.” He complained to Jesus that he had fished all night and had caught nothing.

I call the next scene, “reluctant obedience.” Jesus had said, “Let down your nets.” (plural) Simon responded, “At thy word I will let down the net.” (singular)

Reluctant obedience and half-hearted faith are constant companions. But, Jesus honored it nevertheless, and blessed Simon and his companions with more than a boat-load of fish. What kind of catch would they have had with more nets cast out?

Someone said, “Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God.”

Dwelling Safely

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD only makest me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

The late, John Philips, wrote in his commentary on the Psalms that David wrote this psalm during the time that Absalom, his son was seeking to kill him. Absalom even had David’s army at his disposal. What did the king do? He said, “I will lie down and go to sleep because God is watching over me.”

Sometimes trouble crowds in on our lives and we cry out in fear and anxiety wondering what we can do. It is then that total trust in God is needed. With that kind of trust in our God we can lie down in peace and sleep as did King David. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.