Christmas week 1

Luke 1:26-38

WHAT A LOVELY NAME

Intro: Many years ago a hymn writer by the name of Charles Wycuff penned the following words:

There's a name above all others,

Wonderful to hear, bringing hope and cheer.

It's the lovely name of Jesus,

Evermore the same, what a lovely name.

CHORUS:

What a lovely name, the name of Jesus.

Reaching higher far, than the brightest star.

Sweeter than the songs they sing in heaven.

Let the world proclaim, what a lovely name.

The name he refers to is the name Jesus. It is a name that we know well. It is a name that was well known in His Own day. It was a common name. It was the name of one of the greatest heroes in the history of Israel, Joshua. Joshua is the Hebrew name, and Jesus is the Greek name. They both mean the same thing, “Jehovah Is Salvation.”

When Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, there were many children in Israel named Jesus, but there was none like Him! I want to draw our attention to what the angel said to Mary when he visited her to tell her the amazing news that she, a virgin, would give birth to the Son of God.

When the angel came to Mary, he told her to name the child “Jesus,” Luke 1:31. The angel also visited Joseph some months later to tell him the same thing. “20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins,” Matt. 1:20-21.

After the baby was born, when He was eight days old, Mary and Joseph took Him to be circumcised. On that day, they obeyed the voice of the angel and they called the baby “Jesus.” “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb,” Luke 2:21.

I want us to examine that lovely name together today. The name “Jesus” tells us a lot about the Who He is and what He came to this world to do. I want to preach about His lovely Name!

I. V. 32-33, 35 HIS NAME DECLARES HIS IDENTITY

A. V. 32 He Is The Son Of God - “…shall be called the Son of the Highest.” This baby would not be like any other baby; He would be the Son of God. The eternal Son of God, Who had existed with His Father from eternity past, would step into time and be born through the womb of a virgin. The ancient prophecy of Isaiah would be fulfilled in the person of Jesus. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” Isa. 7:14. The name “immanuel” means “God with us,” Matt. 1:23. That is Who Jesus is! He is the Son of God. He is God in human flesh. He is “God with us,” John 1:1; 14. When you say the name “Jesus,” you are naming the name of God!

B. V. 32 He Is The King Of Israel - “…the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David…” This baby, born to humble people of humble means, would be a direct descendant of King David. More than that, He would be the fulfillment of the God’s promise to King David a thousand years earlier, 2 Sam. 7:4-17. This baby would one day sit on the throne of David and be crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Unlike every others king in the line of David, this King will reign forever, Isa. 9:6-7. One day, this King will return in glory and He will rule the world with “a rod of iron,” Rev. 19:15. When you say the name “Jesus,” you are calling the name of the King of Kings!

C. V. 33 He Is The Fulfillment Of Prophecy - “…And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever…” This phrase reaches far back, beyond the time of David, to the days of Jacob. It brings to mind the words of Jacob spoke to his son Judah just before he died. “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be,” Gen. 49:10. As he lay dying, the old patriarch told Judah that his descendants would be the rulers of the people of Israel. He is told that, ultimately, One known as “Shiloh” would come. The name “Shiloh” means “He whose it is.” It means that one day, the supreme Ruler will come. This Ruler will be the possessor of the people, and of all other things. Jacob goes on to say, “…and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.” The word “gathering” refers to “obedience, cleansing, purging.” In other words, this supreme King will be reverenced by the people. He will cleanse His people. He will purge them, and claim them for His Own. This baby named “Jesus” is the fulfillment of this prophecy! When you say the name“Jesus,” you are talking about the One Who perfectly fulfills all the ancient prophecies concerning the Messiah, the Savior and the Christ.

D. V. 32 He Is The Champion Of Humanity - The angel said, “He shall be great.” That word means “to be great in importance and in estimation.” No other birth in human history was as monumental as the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. When He came into the world, He took His place as the greatest of the great.

The first man was a miracle, because he was made in the image of God and because God formed him from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7. That man sinned and brought sin, death and condemnation upon all his descendants, Rom. 5:12. That man brought shame, disgrace and a curse upon all the world and upon all his offspring.

The Second Adam, fixed everything the first Adam broke. When Jesus was born, God was made in the image of man, Phil. 2:5-8. When Jesus was born, He was without sin. He lived without sin. In His death, He died for sin. The Second Adam was a greater miracle than the first Adam, because He caused light to shine out of darkness. He caused life to spring forth from death. He caused salvation to destroy condemnation. He is “great!” He is the Champion of all humanity, Isa. 9:6! When you name the name of “Jesus,” you are talking about our Hero!

I. His Name Declares His Identity

II. V. 26-28 HIS NAME DECLARES HIS POVERTY

In verses 26-28, the Bible tells us that the angel came to a young maiden girl named Mary. We know that she was engaged to a man named Joseph, v. 27, who was a carpenter by trade, Matt. 13:55. We know that Jesus was born into a family of meager means.

When we examine His birth, we learn that He was born in “a manger.” When He was born, His mother laid Him in a trough used to feed barnyard animals, Luke 2:7. She was forced to do this because “there was no room for them in the inn.”

The ancient inn was a seedy place where poor travelers would seek lodging for the night. Those who had wealth would seek to rent shelter in private homes, or in more suitable places. The family of Jesus could not afford such luxuries, and they were forced to go where the poor went. However, when they arrived at the inn, it was already filled to capacity, and they had to seek shelter in another place. They were forced to spend the night with the animals. It was there that Mary labored and delivered the Son of God.

The name “Jesus” is a name associated with His poverty. That name reminds us of the sacrifices He made for His people. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich,” 2 Cor. 8:9.

It reminds us the, while He was the Creator of all things, while He lived here, He possessed nothing that wasn’t given to Him by others.

• He lived off the gifts of those who cared about Him, Luke 8:3. When He was a child, God commanded Joseph to take Mary and Joseph to Egypt.

• To finance that trip and to provide for His Son, God moved the Magi to make a long, treacherous journey to Bethlehem with their gifts of “gold, frankincense and myrrh,” Matt. 2:11; 19-21.

• When He had to pay His taxes, He got the money from the mouth of a fish, Matt. 17:27

• When He died, the only possession He had was an expensive garment for which the soldiers gambled, John 19:23-24. That garment was, without a doubt, a gift from a wealthy follower.

While He lived, nearly every significant event utilized something that was borrowed, or that had been intended for someone else’s use.

• He borrowed a boat from which He preached, Luke 5:3.

• He borrowed a house in which He lived, Matt. 6:14.

• He borrowed a donkey on which He rode, Mark 11:1-11

• He borrowed a room in which He celebrated the Passover, Mark 14:13-17.

• He borrowed a cross on which He died, Matt. 27:26.

• He borrowed a tomb in which He was buried, Matt. 27:57-60.

He gave up His claims to all things so that we might be given all things. Ill. Phil. 2:6-8. He Who made it all, Who ones it all, willingly laid it all down, so that people like us, who had nothing, could be made the heirs of all things, Rom. 8:17. Praise God for His poverty, for through it, we are rich!

I. His Name Declares His Identity

II. His Name Declares His Poverty

III. V. 31 HIS NAME DECLARES HIS MINISTRY

The angel tells Mary to name her baby “Jesus.” This name means, “Jehovah is Salvation.” His name declares His ministry in this world. His names tells us what He came. When the angel came to Joseph, he said, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins,” Matt. 1:21.

How would this baby accomplish the salvation of His people? He would accomplish it by going to the cross in their place, where He would be judged by God in their stead, 2 Cor. 5:21.

• Jesus did not come to this world to teach, though no one ever taught like Him.

• Jesus did not come into this world to heal, though He healed every sickness He ever encountered.

• Jesus did not come into this world to raise the dead, though He broke up every funeral He ever attended.

• Jesus did not come into this world to perform miracles, though He accomplished many during His time here.

• Jesus came into this world to die on the cross and to give His life a ransom for sinners, Mark 10:45. Jesus came to this world to die for those He loved. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep,” John 10:11.

Every second Jesus lived, from the second He was conceived, until He cried, “It is finished” and yielded up His Spirit, was for the purpose of leading Him to Calvary! To make it even more personal, you are the reason He left Heaven. You are the reason He took upon Himself humanity. You are the reason He lived. You are the reason He died. You are the reason He rose again. He came here for you! He lived for you! He died for you! He rose again for you! He did it all for you! Here is what He said, “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” John 10:10.

When we say the name of Jesus, we are calling to mind the great price He paid to save us. We are remembering His boundless, unconditional love. We are calling to mind His selfless sacrifice for us. When we breath that name, we are talking about the God Who loved us so much that He bore our sins in His Own body on the cross, 1 Pet. 2:24. When we whisper that name, we are saying a mouthful!

I. His Name Declares His Identity

II. His Name Declares His Poverty

III. His Name Declares His Ministry

IV. V. 33 HIS NAME DECLARES HIS GLORY

The angel tells Mary that her Son will “reign.” This word refers to “a king; one who rules in majesty and glory.” This reminds us again that Mary’s baby would be no ordinary baby. This reminds us that Mary was giving birth to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

While Jesus lived in this world, no one recognized His majesty, His glory or His authority. No one really saw Him for Who He was, Isa. 53:1-3.

• Some looked at Him and saw a poor Jewish carpenter. The Jews - Mark 6:3.

• Some looked at Him and saw a revolutionary; One Who stirred up the people. The Jewish leaders - Luke 23:5.

• Some looked at Him and saw a healer. The people around the tomb of Lazarus - John 11:37.

• Some looked at Him and saw an earthly king. Those who witnessed the feeding of the 5,000 - John 6:15.

• Some looked at Him and saw an innocent man. Pilate - John 19:6.

• A few looked at Him and saw the Son of God. Martha - John 11:27; Simon Peter - Matt. 16:16.

• A few looked at Him and saw a righteous man. The Centurion - Luke 23:47.

No one saw Him for Who He really was! Peter, James and John caught a glimpse of His glory on the Mount of transfiguration, Matt. 17:1-8, but even they did not fully understand just Who He was. He lived and died as God walking among men and very few even had the slightest idea Who He was. All that will change one day!

There is coming a day when all the world will know Who He is!

• When He returns in glory, His enemies will know! (Ill. Rev. 19:11-16; Rev. 20:10-15)

• When He reigns in glory, everyone will know! (Ill. Rev. 20:7; Ill. The Millennial Temple and worship - Isa. 66:20-23)

One day, the following passage will be literally fulfilled: “9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,”Phil. 2:9-11.

One day, the name “JESUS” will be proclaimed from the throne of Heaven. When that precious name uttered, the knee of every saint and angel will bow in worship and reverence, the knee of every sinner will bow in acknowledgment of His lordship and glory, and the knee of every demon, and of Satan himself, will bow in recognition that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!

What a day that will be!

Conc: When we say His name; when we sing His name, when we breath His name, when we shout His name, when we whisper His name; we proclaim the greatest name that has ever fallen upon the ears of humanity. We proclaim the name of the Savior of the lost; of the Shepherd of the sheep; of the Redeemer of the soul; of the blessed Bridegroom of the Bride; of the Lover of men’s souls; of the Glory of Heaven; of the One Who calls Himself our Friend, of the True and Living One! That is Him; but He is so much more! In that precious name, the name of Jesus, there is hope, peace, love, salvation, blessing, healing, wonder, joy, glory, and majesty.

“What a lovely name, the name of Jesus!” At the mention of that name hell trembles; Satan flees, sin is defeated, captives are delivered, fear gives was to peace, hopelessness is swallowed up in victory, the lost are found, the blind see, and the dead live.

“What a lovely name, the name of Jesus!” At the mention of that name drunkards are made sober, harlots are made pure, addicts are delivered from the addictions, the lost are saved, and new life beings!

“What a lovely name, the name of Jesus!” That name marks the difference between Heaven and Hell, between life and death, between hope and despair, between sin and salvation, between judgment and forgiveness, and between the grace of God and His condemnation.

Thank God for that lovely name! Jesus bridges the gap between God and man, Heaven and Hell, and sin and salvation. Many have shared that name, but there is only one Jesus Christ, and He is KIng of Kings and Lord of Lords, alone, forever.

What a lovely name, the name of Jesus.

Reaching higher far, than the brightest star.

Sweeter than the songs they sing in heaven.

Let the world proclaim, what a lovely name.