Luke 2 21

The Name of Jesus

New Years Eve/Day

Luke 2:21

Luke 2:21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Intro:              Tonight and tomorrow many of us will be celebrating the beginning of a New Year.  It is the beginning of the last year of this century and the millennium, one-thousand years. Some people begin the New Year with anxiety.  They wonder -- What will the new year bring?  Will it be a good year or a bad year?  They ask -- Will I stay healthy?  Will I keep my job?  This year especially, some people will live in fear because of the doomsday rumors attached to the Y2K2 computer problem.  Other people may say that the end of the world is here.  And still others may say that Jesus is coming – this year.   Tonight many people will be making resolutions.  They hope to make their own lives better by changing themselves.  Tomorrow, by tradition, some people will be eating corn beef and cabbage.  It is said that this meal keeps evil spirits away and brings good luck.  Many people will be counting on good luck to bring them through the new year.

            On the other hand there are people that will enter into the New Year as if they don’t have a care in the world.  They are confident in themselves and their own ability to run their lives.  They don’t think they have any problems or cares.  To them life is a party and the are the guest of honor. 

            What about you and I, the Saints of God.  How do we face the new year?  What is our focus?  What is the foundation that we are counting on to get us through it?

Background:   Our text for today appears to be a simple one.  The old cliché rings true – appearances can be deceiving.  Luke has just taken us from the shepherds who are returning to their flocks, praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.  Now eight days later, the baby is circumcised according to the law and covenant of God and HE is given His name -- Jesus.  Jesus.  As important as His circumcision is, today we will focus on the name that He has been given.

I.       His Name Only

            Jesus, this is the name that God His father chose for Him and delivered to Mary by the angel Gabriel.  His name comes from two Hebrew words, one means  “the Lord” and the other “saves” -- “The Lord saves”.  The Hebrew word for Jesus is Jeshua.  Jesus was its Greek equivalent.  Do you remember any one else named Jeshua?  Do you remember the Old Testament and the story of Moses and the Exodus?  After God delivered Israel out of Egypt. He guided them through the desert for forty years at the hands of Moses. After this He gave them a leader to guide them into the promised land.  Moses was not allowed into the promised land.  God appointed Jeshua to lead the Israelites through the Jordan river and into the land of milk and honey.  Jeshua points to Jesus.  Jesus, has come to lead Gods people out of the desert of sin and death and out of the domination of the devil.  He prepares them through the washing of baptismal waters just as Jeshua lead the Israelites to be washed in the Jordan river.  Jesus guides His people to the promised land.  It is a land where we are again in friendship and fellowship with God.  It is a land that is flowing with milk and honey served at God’s table.  It is the milk and honey of  Christ’s body and blood that sustains us.  It is a land that we are already in.  The Lord has saved His people.  That is why this little baby has such a wonderful name.         

Matthew tells us why he was given this name.  It is written that “He will save His people from their sins”.

II.    Giving His Name Away

            A lot of people have been trying to give his name away, or should I say taking it from him.  Sometimes we too are guilty of this most grievous sin.  The name of the Lord is equated with salvation – our salvation.  Anyone who denies a need for salvation is actually taking Jesus’ name away.  Other people contend that salvation can be had in many religions.  These people would have us find our own individual Christ’s and our own salvation’s through them.  They take Jesus’ name away in denying His very words “ I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me”.  They reject his free gift of life to them.  Some people think that they can earn favor in God’s sight by doing good works.  While good works are necessary, they have nothing to do with our acceptance and salvation.  Salvation comes only in the name of Jesus.  We too are in danger of taking his name away and trying to give it to ourselves.  How often do we think we gain acceptance and God’s favor because we act with piety.  Perhaps we feel that God accepts us because of how often we pray, fast or worship.  This too is an attempt to take Jesus’ name for ourselves.  It is unsuccessful robbery.

III. Taking His Name

            Indeed we do get his name, the name of Jesus.  It is given to us freely.  He calls us His people for it is His people that He saves from their sins.  When we are baptized we receive His name.  We become Christ –ians.  Are sinful flesh is put away and we are made perfect in Jesus.  All the wonderful promises of that most splendid name are given to us.

Jesus the author and perfector of our faith.  Jesus are firm foundation.  Jesus our Savior and judge.  Jesus, our leader into the promised land. Jesus, our bread of life. Jesus the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.  Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Jesus –

 Philippians 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Conclusion:  Tonight as we celebrate a new year, more importantly we celebrate the name of Jesus.  We hold no confidence in resolutions.  We do not trust in luck.  We do not trust in ourselves.  We trust in God’s continuing love for us.  God sent the promised savior and we know that we will have a great New Year because we trust in the name of Jesus.