“What’s in a name?” wrote William Shakespeare in his famous play Romeo and Juliet, suggesting that names are only a means to distinguish people. However, in the Bible, God reveals Himself through His name. In his book, Knowing God, JI Packer wrote, “God’s names are not mere labels, but revelations of His nature and character, given to His people so they might trust Him more completely.”
This profound truth is beautifully demonstrated in Matthew 1:21-23 where an angel appears to Joseph in a dream. The angel explains that Mary to whom he was engaged has conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit and she will bear a Son. Joseph is instructed to name him Jesus.
The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua or Yeshua meaning “The Lord saves”. This name is a revelation of Jesus’ mission. Jesus’ ministry will involve the spiritual salvation of God’s people by removing the alienation from God which their sins have created. 1Blomberg, Craig L.. Matthew : An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 1992.
The second name mentioned by the Angel to Joseph is Immanuel which is a prophecy from the Old Testament, Isaiah 7:14. The name Immanuel means that He is “God with us”. 2Robert H. Gundry, A Survey of the New Testament, 5th ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2012), 197. This name is a description of who Jesus is, that is fully man and fully God. John further describes this profound truth by presenting Jesus as the ‘Word’ or ‘Logos’.
John identified Jesus as the Eternal Word, the One who is God and existed with God in the beginning (John 1:1). Jesus is also the Incarnate Word whereby God became a physical human being and was born by the miracle of the virgin birth. Eugene Peterson paraphrases the wonder in contemporary language, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.” This means that Jesus as Immanuel understands us. Jesus just like any of us knows thirst (John 4:7), weariness (John 4:6), grief (John 11:35) and temptation and yet did not sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Immanuel’s birth reminds us that He came to us. His death reveals his love for us. His resurrection offers hope for us.
As the carol writer invites Immanuel, may we open our hearts and welcome Him.
O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
