Luke 2 21 Name of Jesus (Wyneken)
Luke 2:21 The Name of Jesus – by Wyneken
And now let us examine what meaning the name Jesus has for us. When the angel made the annunciation to Mary he already told her that the child to be born was to be named Jesus. Later an angel appeared to Joseph while he slept and instructed him to take Mary unto himself and that the child within her, which was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was to be named Jesus, for He would free his people from their sins. At the time of circumcision, then, when He began His work of redemption and salvation, He publicly received this name.
This name is to remind you, then, that you have a Savior and Redeemer, given you by God Himself, one who loves you and has taken your sins and your condemnation upon Himself, in order to redeem you from your sins and give you eternal life. Whosoever has been freed from his sins has also been freed from the wages of sin and punishment. Wages of sin and punishment is the wrath of God, followed by all physical troubles and suffering, war, pestilence, famine, poverty, shame, disease and death, and finally eternal damnation and eternal suffering in hell. These are the wages of sin. Therefore, as Jesus is delivering us from the wages of sin He is also delivering us from the wrath of God.
He reconciles us with God, upholding us and keeping us safe from all evil, all dangers and sufferings. He uses these so that they turn out to be good for us, finally redeeming us completely, yea, He leads us through death into eternal life and everlasting bliss. -- See now, all this is contained in this name Jesus and given to you. Therefore, if you believe in this name and call on Him, not considering your own works and merits as your Savior, then you are redeemed from your sins and the wages of sin, then you are righteous and saved, a child and heir of all of God's promises.
However, no one can be saved if he cannot be certain of this salvation. For where there is uncertainty there is also doubt, there temptation cannot be resisted--especially concerning the cross--there will be doubt. Therefore your conscience must be sure of forgiveness of sin and salvation. This would be impossible if our salvation were depending on our own works and deeds, or if Christ were to save us in light of our own merits and works. In that case Christ would be no different from Moses, the Gospel would only be Law. That would turn the Savior into a judge, and the Redeemer into the executioner. But, praise be to God! Our redemption is based on His works which started with His birth, freely submitting to circumcision Where He solemnly made a pledge to God which He gloriously fulfilled on the cross. For that He was born, circumcised, crucified, died, buried; for that He descended victoriously into hell, where He imprisoned the prison. For that he triumphantly arose, ascended to heaven, sitting on the right hand of God from where He will return to judge the living and the dead.
With this judgment He will complete His work. Jesus is the end of the Law, he who believes in Him is righteous, and whosoever calls on His name will be saved. This name contains all your salvation, the peace of your conscience, the joy of your heart, the hope for life, the victory over death; in short, all of life and salvation, God and Heaven, all this is contained in the name Jesus. The name of Jesus embraces the unfathomable depth of mercy and the love of God towards the lost world of sinners. Jesus is our God and Lord.