When Mary first held that beautiful infant, she did not have to wrestle with what He would be called. His Father (not His stepfather) had decided. He sent a messenger to the perplexed Joseph to say, “she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS” (Matthew 1:21).
Jesus . . . what a name! It is now the world’s most recognizable appellation, but at that time it was the New Testament form of the Old Testament name “Joshua.” It means “savior.” Joshua saved God’s people by bringing them into Canaan; Jesus saved God’s people by opening heaven. Continue reading
