It’s here! December has arrived. Christmas is around the corner. The crazy season has begun. The stores are in mega-selling mode. Black Friday began about a month ago. Houses in our neighborhood are starting to show their holiday spirit. We are bombarded by Christmas movies, Christmas commercials, Christmas deals. And behind all this hoopla the reason for the season may be obscured.
His name is Jesus. Mary and Joseph were told to give Him that name because, “he will save his people from their sins.” [Matt 1:21]
The name Jesus means “YAHWEH saves” or “YAHWEH is salvation.” A transliteration from the Hebrew and Aramaic is “Yeshua.” In English, the spelling of “Yeshua” is Joshua. In the Greek, it is Jesus. The name carries the meaning of rescue, deliver, or save. The name was quite popular in first-century Judea, so this Jesus was known as “Jesus of Nazareth.”
“When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” [Galatians 4:4-5]
Christmas has a purpose, and it’s not Santa or reindeer or sleigh bells. It is the honoring of God’s purpose of sending His Son, Jesus, to save us. God’s Son emptied Himself to become a humble man. He lived up to His name as none other could.
So, as we begin this season, let’s decide what or whom we are honoring, God’s Son, born of a woman, sent at the appointed time to save us, or fairy tales and commercialism. I know where my focus will be.
