What ’ s In a Name ?
Matthew 1:21
Sunday , December 24th
There was a doctor from Nigeria living in the United States who had been given a very long African name that meant “ child who takes away the anger .” While she most often used a shorter English name , people would still ask her what her African name meant . In response , she tells the story of how when her parents first met , their parents didn ’ t approve of the relationship . As things got more serious , both families became angry that their children were dating . It got so bad that the families threatened to disown their children if they went through with a marriage . Her parents loved each other and went through with the marriage . True to their word , the grandparents stopped speaking to their children . This lasted for a while until the first grandchild was born – the “ child who takes away the anger .” Then both families wanted to be so involved with the new baby that they put their anger away and forgot their differences because of this newborn child .
Jesus is the child who takes away the anger . He is the one who came to take away God ’ s anger over sin . That child may have looked small as a newborn wrapped in cloths and placed in a feed trough , but his purpose was big . He came to be a Savior of all . He did this by living a life that was perfectly pleasing to God and by dying a death to satisfy all payment for sin . As a result , when God looks at us he no longer sees our sin but he sees Jesus and his righteousness .
Because of Jesus we receive new names . The Bible gives us names like “ Righteous ,” “ Sons and Daughters of the Most High ,” “ Dearly Loved ,” and “ Saints of God .” These are not names we deserve but names we receive because Jesus saved his people from their sins .
There is no anger . Mary gave birth to a child and named him Jesus . This Jesus has saved you from your sins .
Prayer : Gracious God , you instructed Mary to name her son Jesus , for he would save his people from their sins . We thank you that Jesus is the only name by which we must be saved . Amen .
Activity : Learn what your name means . ( The internet will be a big help .) Also find out what your families names mean and also what the names of your favorite people from the Bible mean . Write this all down on a piece of paper and on the top of that paper write : “ Jesus saved these people from their sins .”
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