The Name of Jesus- January 1- Luke 2:21

 Of course, the first day of January is the secular New Year, and we pray for God’s blessings during the year. However, January 1 also has other associations on the church calendar. There is a wealth of Scriptures and themes appropriate for the day. One theme of January 1 is often overlooked- that is, an event that Scripture tells happened when the Christ Child was a week old, His public naming.

Since ancient times, many Christians have set aside January 1 for special observances based on St Matthew 1:21. St. Luke 1:21, and St. Luke 2:21. In Matthew 1:21, the angel tells Joseph, “ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (ESV).  The English name Jesus comes from the Hebrew Yoshua (which is Yeshua in Aramaic), and this name means “the LORD will save.” In Luke 1:21, the angel also gives Mary this name to call her holy Son. 

These two verses along with the day's Gospel from Luke 2:21 stress that Christ’s name is no accident. “And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb” (ESV). Jesus is the name given by God, and the name Jesus reflects the Christ's identity, essence, and purpose. It reveals His mission in the world. He is the Lord God who comes among us in the flesh. The name Jesus reflects the prophecy that He is Immanuel, “God with us.” He is the one who saves.

So on January 1, we give thanks that Jesus Christ, aided by His earthly parents Mary and Joseph, obeys and fulfills God’s Law for our sake. His circumcision and naming mark Him as the One who has come to fulfill the covenant promises in a perfect way. He was and is Jesus, the Lord who saves.

Christmas

Christmas or The Feast of the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ commemorates a central event in human history, and most of us have some warm mental images of angels, a stable, Mary, Joseph, and a babe in a manger. Christmas also proclaims a key theological concept- the Incarnation. "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (St. John 1:14). This is a great and sublime truth, but it is not isolated. It is closely related to the whole message of the Gospel.

The Christmas reading from Hebrews 1 points us toward the meaning of the Christian celebration. Hebrews 1:1-3 says, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," (ESV)

These words show the importance of the Incarnation and summarize the basic message of the Christian Gospel. The divine message already preached by the prophets has reached its climax and fulfillment in Jesus Christ, God's only Son. The Son has always been involved in divine work, but in Jesus, the Son, the Word, has come among us in a great new way. He reveals God the Father perfectly, He takes away our sins, and He ascends to reign with the Father in heaven.  Christmas is about a miraculous birth, but it is also about much more. It is a proclamation of the eternal and saving Gospel of Jesus Christ! May the Good News of the Savior dwell in our hearts always! And may we all have a merry and blessed Christmas!

Advent 4 (year A)

By the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Scripture readings are filled with anticipation of Christ's birth. The Old Testament selection from Isaiah 7:10-17 is a famous passage that prophesies the future of Israel. There are two aspects of the message: warning of judgment and hope for redemption. The hope in the prophecy is the sign of the child born of a virgin. This child will be called Immanuel, "God with us." Of course, Christians have always understood this prophetic hope as pointing to Jesus Christ.

Psalm 24 is a well-known praise of the Lord God as the king of glory who comes among His people. This psalm takes on special meaning in light of our anticipation of the coming of the Christ Child.

Romans 1:1-7 is the Apostle Paul's introduction of himself and his message to the church at Rome. In these verses, Paul emphasizes the reality of Christ's incarnation as the fulfillment of Scripture and the expression of divine grace.

Matthew 1:18-25 is a brief account of Jesus' birth from Joseph's perspective. It highlights his acceptance of the virgin birth under divine guidance. Joseph realizes the holiness of his betrothed and of her son. He is instructed to call Him Jesus, a name which comes from Hebrew meaning "the Lord will save." This brief account reminds us of two realities. It affirms the importance of Joseph's role in the plan for redemption, and it also points beyond Joseph to the greater importance of Jesus, the Redeemer. May the Gospel reading and all the Scriptures deepen our appreciation of the reasons for the celebration!

Advent 3 (year A)- James 5:7; Matthew 11:3

The readings for the Third Sunday of Advent emphasize the prophetic message and the hope for deliverance.   The first lesson from the Old Testament is in Isaiah 35:1-10. The imagery of this passage looks toward deliverance. Nature will be renewed and at peace, even among the beasts. Human beings will be strengthened and redeemed.

Psalm 146 emphasizes that one should trust in God, not in human leaders. God is the only true hope for all in the midst of earthly trials.

The reading from the New Testament is from the letter of James. The theme of James 5:7-11 is contained in the opening verse- "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord" (ESV). As Christians, we live between the times, between Christ's great work of redemption and its final triumph with His coming again. As we anticipate this, we live in patience and hope.

The Gospel from Matthew 11:2-15 shows John the Baptist in prison   He sends two of his followers to Jesus, and they ask if Jesus is the expected Messiah. We are not told why John asks. Perhaps he needed personal reassurance, and he probably also wanted his disciples to encounter Jesus. In any case, Jesus replies with a two-fold proclamation. First, He points to the redemptive acts taking place in His own ministry. Secondly, He points to the purpose and value of the prophetic work of John the Baptist. Then, our Lord concludes with an exhortation to His hearers to hear, that is, to be sensitive and perceptive to events. May we also be sensitive and perceptive to God's redemptive work!