Today’s Scripture Reading (December
25, 2014): Matthew 1
Most of us have dreams for our kids. If we were asked what our dreams are
for our kids we would probably reply that we are happy if they just stay
healthy – but, most likely, our dreams go just a little deeper. We want them to
make a difference in their world. We want them to find a good spouse who will
complement them and help them to make their dreams come true. We may not wish
great financial success on them, but we do want them to be comfortable – to be
able to pay their debts and save enough money to purchase a house and someday
to retire in comfort – and not have to spend their lives living from paycheck
to paycheck. All of this is part of our dream.
Things haven’t changed much in this respect. We still dream for our kids
like the parents of centuries past dreamt for their kids. So, when Mary and
Joseph found out that they were going to have a baby, they were given a name. The
name described all that the baby boy was meant to be. The angel told them to
call him Jesus. A few years ago archaeologists found a grave marker of a family
that contained the names of Mary and Joseph and Jesus. A thrill went through
the world as people wondered if we had found the burial spot of the holy
family. Then we started to do the math. Mary was the most popular name for
girls in Jesus time. A quick look through the bible confirms that Mary was not
an unusual name. Joseph and Jesus were also very popular names. Israel 2000
years ago was filled with little boys named Jesus. The probability of a family
having the names of Mary, Joseph and Jesus was fairly high – probably higher
than any other combination of names.
Parents would name their sons Jesus, or a variant of the name, simply
because they desperately wanted a name that would sum up all of their dreams and
hopes for their children. By naming the
boys Jesus, and the girls Mary, they gave a name that would indicate that their
child were important. But no one was giving their children the name of
Immanuel. No one wanted to claim that their child would be “God with Us.” One
would come – sometime in the future – that would be “God with Us.” Oh, no doubt
they would have loved to name their child Immanuel – but that would be a little
too forward.
The angel spoke to Joseph. Mary will have a baby and you will call him
Jesus – just like so many other boys that he will grow up with – but he is also
Immanuel. He is God coming to us.
We don’t worship Jesus – there were too many of them. We worship at the
name of Jesus who is also Immanuel. God has come to you – and to me. And
nothing is more worthy of my praise.
Merry Christmas to all!
(Originally Published on December 26, 2010)
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2
Corinthians 11
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