What’s in a name? In one instance it is far more than one thinks.

Agur in Proverbs 30:4 asks “Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know?”

They didn’t know the sons name, it had yet to be given, though the Old Testament declared “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”(Isa 9:6)

He was not named Michael or Gabriel (like God or power of God) but the name was delivered from heaven by an angel to Joseph, he was to be called Jesus. Y’shua – God is salvation. Matt 1:21 To Joseph the angel spoke "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

Later in Luke 1:31 To Mary the angel spoke" And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.”

Born to save his people from their sins. His name and purpose was explained together.

Christmass means death. While this term is not accurate and the world and church use it, we do know He was born to die. This is how he would save us from our sins. The world see this one way, the believers see it another.

Early on the disciples were told not to speak that name as it offended the religious establishment. They were thrown in jail for speaking his name (nothing much has changed). But they refused to stop speaking his namebecause there is no other name Salvation is found in other than, "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth", “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" [Acts 4: 10, 12]

Acts 10:43 "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

They called him Immanuel, God with us. And rightly so as he is said by the angel to be Christ the Lord at his birth. Luke 2:11-12"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

The sign was him wrapped in cloths that were burial cloths that were left in caves outside the city. The Jews buried people in caves. They didn’t have separate buildings for animals. The sign was the way he was born; it will be the same way he will also be buried. He was born among the animals with no home. In His death he would be buried in a rich mans cave.

He was born Christ the LORD because he was the LORD in heaven. Thus he is called Immanuel - God with us (Mt.1:23) as he was born a man.

Born as the way of salvation. He is the savior. To reconcile those separated from God, to reconcile sinners.

Heb. 10:4-5 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.” So he fulfilled Isa. 63:8-9 For He said, "Surely they are My people, children who will not lie." So He became their Savior. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old.”

Born in the city of David Bethlehem, the place of bread. All those who hunger for righteousness will follow this child when he is grown. As they were counting citizens of earth (Lk.2:1-5) the one from heaven came down to become a citizen of man so we could become citizens of heaven (Phil.3:20).

The world is offended by the name Jesus, Buddhist, Muslims, Jews, atheists. No other name of a famous person or teacher stumbles people more. They try to outlaw speaking of him, praying in his name congregating in his name

I remember one night we were street witnessing in Waikiki, and a teenage man came running up and hid behind us as we were handing out tracks and talking to people. Then a gang of youth (4-5) came up facing us as this one teenager hid behind us in fear. I saw what was going down and began to speak to them and said the name of Jesus a number of times when one of them at the end began to cower and went to the ground showing distress. The other of his gang saw this and they all turned around and left immediately. The youth thanked us profusely. There is power in the name when it is needed.

Isa. 45:21-23 “Tell and bring forth your case; yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me. "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.”

God is speaking saying he is the savior they will all bow to

Phil. 2:8-11 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Here the New Testament says that we will bow to Jesus. Because He is the God that became man. This glorifies the Father.

No other gift can heal you from your sins. No gift compares because God’s gift can’t be bought.