Announcement of Jesus through his names – 12 October 2021

The angel’s announcement to Mary is crystal clear. The Holy Spirit will come over her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her and she will fall pregnant with a boy. He will be called the Son of God. Every detail about him is already in place – his gender, name, status, descent and inheritance.

Because of the nature of who he is (God Himself), we can only appraise him by his names. In today’s devotion, we will keep to the following names. Jesus, the Saviour, who will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. His mother will call Him Immanuel (God with us) as prophesied by Isaiah. (Isaiah 7:14)

Yet, it is not the end! An angel brings the news to shepherds in the field that the Saviour, Christ the Lord, has been born. A great company of the heavenly host joined the shepherds in their praising of God. (Luke 2:8-20)

Wise men (Magi) from the East, saw a star and came to worship the King of the Jews that was born in Bethlehem. Led by the star, they found Jesus and his parents, and honoured him for who He was – a king. They presented him with gifts fit for a king – gold, incense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-12)

Do you see what happened? The Most High God stretched out his hand to earth to bring about his redemptive plan for the world. He takes initiative and extends his hands of grace over broken and sinful humans. His only Son Jesus, the Saviour, enters the world as man to take away every spatter of sin in his lifetime and to trample to dust the grief of eternal death.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that we need not hold on to false and unrealistic dreams. You are the “Yes” and the “Amen” of the eternity of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen