Hope, peace and joy are a reality because of Jesus Christ. In the true sense of the season, Jesus is the only sanity to it.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Notice the wording. The virgin will bear a son and she will call him Immanuel.
Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Here is the name of the Savior, the Messiah. There are two names given. Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy said a virgin would conceive and call him Immanuel. Matthew also says Emmanuel stating it means God with us. Joseph was confused after finding out Mary was expecting a child, but the angel told him the child was of God and that he shall be called JESUS because he would save people from their sins.
In the book of Luke, before Mary conceived, the angel told her what would happen. God already had the name picked out—JESUS. When a baby is conceived many couples pick out a name right away. The name is special to the mom and dad. This baby here in scripture was no different in that regard. He was special and his name was chosen. From heaven itself Joseph and Mary were both told to name him Jesus. It was the Greek name for the Hebrew (Old Testament) name of Joshua. He would save the world. The Son of God would be the people’s Savior.
When the shepherds were given the news of the birth of Jesus, they were not given his name. The angel said fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Only one can save—Jesus—Christ the Lord. Both the Old and New Testaments give us Jesus as the fulfillment of the promise that a virgin would conceive and be called Emmanuel. Because he is Jesus, he is Emmanuel. He is God with us. Jesus is not ashamed of his name. He is not ashamed of those who receive him as Savior. He sticks by his name and sticks by us.
We need to receive him as Jesus in a personal way within our heart. That means if you’re not saved you can be by accepting Jesus as your Savior, as your Emmanuel. God became flesh when Jesus was born. He’s among us because Jesus is God. He came to save. You can know God is with you. When you trust God through Jesus Christ, your life becomes God and you, the personal hope, the personal peace, the personal joy of life. Come to him. Call him Jesus. Call him your Emmanuel.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 