GREAT EXPECTATIONS: JESUS

God sent messengers to both Joseph (Matthew) and Mary (Luke) telling them to name their child “Jesus”. Have you ever wondered why they were to call him Jesus? Jesus was a common enough name. Didn’t seem like a great name for a child for whom there were great expectations, who shepherds rejoiced in and wisemen worshiped. Why not Abraham, the ‘Father of faith’ with whom God made the first covenant with the people of Joseph and Mary? Why not Moses, the great deliverer who saw God’s face and lived? Why Jesus?

Jesus is the Greek translation of the name Joshua. Joshua means “God Saves”. That is no small name to live into. Joshua was the right hand for Moses. Joshua helped lead the Israelites out of Egypt and was on Mount Zion when the Law was given to Moses. He was one of the 12 spies sent to check out the Promised Land. And one of two of those spies who had faith that God would deliver the land of giants into their hands. He was given charge over the Israelites to be the one who led the people through the water of the Jordan into the Promised Land. He led them in battle and helped the Israelites establish their homeland.

Jesus did the same in a more profound way. Jesus was in the presence of God which prepared him for his mission. Jesus crossed the Jordan in baptism to lead the people into the reign of God. Jesus conquered the giants of the evil one, sin and death. These giants were in the hearts of the people. Jesus’ ultimate victory established the peace in the new Promised Land of the people of God. His Kingdom will have no end.

Joshua was the perfect name for the One who would lead us to victory against the enemies that are too great for us. He is the one to establish peace in the eternal reign of God. Jesus is the ‘God Who Saves’.

Seeking His Kingdom,

Jonathan