Today's Scripture Reading (December 26, 2024): 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. However, the truth is that our dreams go just a little deeper. We want them to make a difference in their world. We want them to find a suitable 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 dreamed for their kids. So, when Mary and Joseph discovered they would 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 family's grave marker that contained the names of Mary, 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's 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 relatively high, possibly 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 their dreams and hopes for their children. By naming the boys Jesus and the girls Mary, they gave their children names indicating that their offspring 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." Sometime in the future, one who would be "God with Us" would come. 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 with whom he will grow up. However, he is also Immanuel. He is God coming to us.
We don't worship Jesus; the reality is that there were too many of them. We worship in the name of Jesus, who is also Immanuel. God has come to you and me. And nothing is more worthy of my praise.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Leviticus 13
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