Dillon Community Church

This January 2024 our 2nd Grandchild will be arriving. As you can imagine we are excited for this baby’s birth and along with friends and family have been inquiring about “her” name. Our son and daughter-in-law, as well as big sister have kept this a secret. Will it be a family name? A trendy name, old fashioned or meaningful? We have been told they will “wait and see” to choose a name that fits the new baby at her birth.

Mary and Joseph didn’t have the option to “wait and see.” In separate dreams an angel was the one who told them they were to name the baby JESUS (Luke 1:30-31 and Matt 1:20-21). Perhaps it was a relief not having to worry about picking the perfect name for their son. The meaning of one’s name during Jesus’ time and culture was an important identifier. The name JESUS means “the Lord saves” – that name was perfect.

Centuries earlier the prophet Isaiah declared that the child born as the Messiah would be known by four other titles that would reveal the type of person he would become during his life and ministry.

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest upon his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”  (Isaiah 9:6).

Of course, JESUS grew into all of these names. All of them are powerful and command our attention and respect for who he was and continues to be. What do you call him? What is your favorite? At Christmas we know him as the baby JESUS, our promised Messiah. He is all those names and more. Celebrate the name of JESUS. Merry Christmas!    

Cindi McDonald, elder