Nougat 29

Have you contemplated the meaning of the name Jesus? Chew slowly as we consider today’s Holy Nougat

“And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He Will Save His People

Jesus’ conception initiated a rift between Joseph and Mary (see Matthew 1:18-19). It was literally a matter of life and death. For, if Joseph rejected Mary’s claims that God’s messenger said she was selected to bear Israel’s Messiah, she could have been stoned to death. He didn’t wish her dead – but he didn’t accept her story. If Mary was telling the truth however – as he discovered that she evidently was – there is a sense in which Joseph was out of God’s will.

If we continue along that trajectory, then we can argue that Jesus’ very first act of saving people from their sins was with Joseph. And aside from the sin potential, He also saved His (earthly) parents’ marriage. Thus, although Joseph wasn’t Jesus’ direct father, he was Jesus’ people!

So here’s a thought for each of us, or rather a question … Are we Jesus’ people?

According to John 1; when we believe in and accept Jesus as God’s only begotten Son, and as Lord we have the right to be called the ‘Children of God’. That’s part of the Christmas message. Our access to eternity, and also to being saved from our sins.

This is not a one-off deal.

Every single time we sin, Jesus has already sought out our forgiveness. We only have to believe and repent of the sin. And though that’s not easy for us to do naturally, as Jesus’ people, it is doable. Of course we also have to accept our role as Jesus’ people.

Even before coming to earth, Jesus had one aim: to save His people. ‘He Will Save …’ tells us that. 2000+ years later, He is still in the business of saving His people. Until His return, Jesus will continue to save His people … God’s people; although we don’t deserve it.

Knowing that, what shall we do with the knowledge?

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May all we seek be found in Christ