Merry Christmas, everyone! It’s been a quiet season here at Heavenly Springs, but I’m still here!  No worries. It’s all good.  Just the seasons of life.  Still, I couldn’t let the day go by without memorializing it. It’s Christmas, and I’ve been thinking about his name.  Were it possible, it would have been blotted out a long time ago by those who despise it.  But the name of Jesus will never be erased!  To the believer, it is the most beautiful name in the world.  It is more precious than any joy or pleasure this fleeting world has to offer. It is life itself. But what does it mean? What does it tell us about ourselves? What does it say about God?  J.C. Ryle, in his commentary on the first chapter of Matthew, tells us all that’s in his name! Today, we celebrate the birth of a Savior who came to save us from our sins.  And if that weren’t enough, his promise is that he will be with us forever!  We will never be alone! Today, I celebrate with you, and believers everywhere, that wonderful name of Jesus!  Merry Christmas!

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21

“The name JESUS means “Savior.” It is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament. It is given to our Lord because “He saves His people from their sins.” This is His special office. He saves them from the guilt of sin, by washing them in His own atoning blood. He saves them from the dominion of sin, by putting in their hearts the sanctifying Spirit. He saves them from the presence of sin, when He takes them out of this world to rest with Him. He will save them from all the consequences of sin, when He shall give them a glorious body at the last day. Blessed and holy are Christ’s people! From sorrow, cross, and conflict they are not saved. But they are saved from sin for evermore. They are cleansed from guilt by Christ’s blood. They are made fit for heaven by Christ’s Spirit. This is salvation. He who cleaves to sin is not yet saved.

Jesus is a very encouraging name to heavy-laden sinners. He who is King of kings and Lord of lords might lawfully have taken some more high-sounding title. But He does not do so. The rulers of this world have often called themselves Great, Conquerors, Bold, Magnificent, and the like. The Son of God is content to call Himself Savior. The souls which desire salvation may draw near to the Father with boldness, and have access with confidence through Christ. It is His office and His delight to show mercy. “For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.” (John 3:17.)

Jesus is a name, which is peculiarly sweet and precious to believers. It has often done them good, when the favor of kings and princes would have been heard of with unconcern. It has given them what money cannot buy, even inward peace. It has eased their wearied consciences, and given rest to their heavy hearts. The Song of Solomon speaks the experience of many, when it says, “your name is oil poured forth.” (Cant. 1:3.) Happy is that person, who trusts not merely in vague notions of God’s mercy and goodness, but in “Jesus.”

The other name in these verses is scarcely less interesting than that just referred to. It is the name which is given to our Lord from his nature, as “God manifest in the flesh.” He is called EMMANUEL, “God with us.”

Let us take care that we have clear views of our Lord Jesus Christ’s nature and person. It is a point of the deepest importance. We should settle it firmly in our minds, that our Savior is perfect man as well as perfect God, and perfect God as well as perfect man. If we once lose sight of this great foundation truth, we may run into fearful heresies. The name Emmanuel takes in the whole mystery. Jesus is “God with us.” He had a nature like our own in all things, sin only excepted. But though Jesus was “with us” in human flesh and blood, He was at the same time very God.

We shall often find, as we read the Gospels, that our Savior could be weary, and hungry, and thirsty–could weep, and groan, and feel pain like one of ourselves. In all this we see “the man” Christ Jesus. We see the nature He took on Him, when He was born of the Virgin Mary.

But we shall also find in the same Gospels that our Savior knew men’s hearts and thoughts–that He had power over devils–that He could work the mightiest of miracles with a word–that He was ministered to by angels–that He allowed a disciple to call Him “my God,”–and that he said, “Before Abraham was I am,” and “I and my Father are one.” In all this we see “the eternal God.” We see Him “who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.” (Rom. 9:5.)

Would you have a strong foundation for your faith and hope? Then keep in constant view your Savior’s divinity. He in whose blood you are taught to trust is the Almighty God. All power is His in heaven and earth. None can pluck you out of His hand. If you are a true believer in Jesus, let not your heart be troubled or afraid.

Would you have sweet comfort in suffering and trial? Then keep in constant view your Savior’s humanity. He is the man Christ Jesus, who lay on the bosom of the Virgin Mary, as a little infant, and knows the heart of a man. He can be touched with the feeling of your infirmities. He has Himself experienced Satan’s temptations. He has endured hunger. He has shed tears. He has felt pain. Trust Him at all times with all your sorrows. He will not despise you. Pour out all your heart before Him in prayer, and keep nothing back. He can sympathize with His people.

Let these thoughts sink down into our minds. Let us bless God for the encouraging truths which the first chapter of the New Testament contains. It tells us of One who “saves His people from their sins.” But this is not all. It tells us that this Savior is “Emmanuel,” God Himself, and yet God with us, God manifest in human flesh like our own. This is glad tidings. This is indeed good news. Let us feed on these truths in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving.”

J.C. Ryle