What's in a Name

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 NIV

A name game was going around Facebook today. In fact, there were several names games floating around. This time of year social media users like to circulate the games that give you a funny name based on your initials or birth month. I think for one I was Happy Gigglesworth or some such thing. Another game is to state your first name that is the same as a famous person then say you're not that person, such as I'm Brad, but not Pitt. Also on the news today the most unusual baby names and the most popular baby names for 2017.

What's in a name? It can be a baby's first identity. A woman changes her last name (or not) when she marries, or uses a combination of names. I'm named after my mother's best friend and my middle name is a family tradition. I use my maiden name on my Facebook account so people I knew in my childhood recognize which person I am. There's a lot in a name.

You can imagine the care that God took when he decided on Jesus' name. It had to be carefully chosen because of who he would be...our savior. Our redeemer. The Prince of peace. Jehovah.

So what's in a name. Salvation. Eternity. All in the name of Jesus, the baby born in a manger.