The name of Jesus
by Pastor Nathan Hedt
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On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived (Luke 2:21).
In the church calendar, New Year’s Day is known as the festival of the ‘Name of Jesus’. It’s the eighth day after the celebration of Jesus’ birth (counting Christmas Day as day 1!). The eighth day was the day Jesus was circumcised and given his human name.
I think this is a beautiful tradition. As people who have been marked with the name of the Son in our baptism, we carry the his name in each of our interactions in this new year. Not only our bodies but our time also bears the name of Jesus.
There are many names given to the incarnate Son of God. Saviour, Holy One, Lamb of God, Light of the World, Christ, Messiah, Anointed One, Lion of Judah, Alpha and Omega. Each of them brings a different shade of meaning and conveys a different facet of the person, work and character of this person, who is Emmanuel, God with us. We could fruitfully meditate each day on a different name given to Jesus and what that name means for his work with us.
Today, this New Year’s Day, let us spend some time contemplating the name the angel gave him on God’s behalf: ‘You are to give him the name Jesus’ (Luke 1:31). Matthew 1:21 tells us that he will be named Jesus ‘because he will save his people from their sins’. Jesus is the Greek version of Joshua, the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means ‘The Lord saves’. New Year’s Day and the name of Jesus means we go into this new year as forgiven people, beloved, washed clean, holy in God’s sight, spotless and radiant before God. What a wonderful way to start this year!
Jesus, your name is beautiful. Thank you that you have placed your name on us and that you have come to save us from our sins and forgive us. Please grant us the grace to bear your name in this new year. May your blessing be on all the days of 2022. In your beautiful, powerful and precious name, we pray. Amen.
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