READ: MATTHEW 1:18-25; LUKE 2:11; JOHN 3:16-17; 4:42

In my beautiful Colombia, and Latin America in general, calling your child Jesus is a sign of consecration to God or giving a respectable name to a child. Jesus, Jesus Maria, Maria de Jesus, Jesus Adrian, Jesus Alberto, Jesus Dario, among others, are common combinations that occur in our countries. However, I have noticed that most Anglo-Saxon parents, especially those from the USA, Australia, and the UK, do not call their children Jesus. And the question that comes to my mind is: Why not call your children Jesus?

Think about the meaning of the name Jesus. It’s derived from the Hebrew name Joshua (Yehoshua), which means “God is salvation” or “the LORD saves.” So how did Mary and Joseph choose Jesus’s name? In the book of Matthew, we read that an angel appeared to Joseph and told him not to be afraid to go forward with His marriage to Mary, because it was by the Holy Spirit that she had become pregnant. Then the angel said, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

At Christmas, we not only remember the beauty of Jesus’s human nature, but also the glory of His divinity. Jesus healed people, performed miracles, cast out demons, demonstrated His dominion over nature, and ultimately resurrected from the dead. This child born in Bethlehem is the hope of the world. He is God the Son, come to rescue humankind from our worst enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Through His own death and resurrection, Jesus has overcome. He is the Savior of the world. This is why Acts 4:12 tells us, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

We can then say that Christmas is not primarily about gifts, feasts, or parties. The central point of Christmas is the birth of the Savior, and with Him, the plan of rescue of humankind. Let us remember then, in this season of Advent, that every time we mention the name Jesus, we lift up and emphasize the meaning of that beautiful name: God is salvation!

Father, we thank You for the salvation You have given us in Jesus. Thank You that You sent Jesus to save us. Thank You that You conquered sin and death, and today we can celebrate our freedom. Help us to remember with love and fervor that at Christmas we celebrate the work of our Lord. Amen. • Samir Eljagh

• Do you know anyone named Jesus? What does this name reveal about God the Son?

“You are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 (CSB)