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(Matthew 1:18-21)

INTRODUCTION: Our Scripture this evening comes from the gospel of Matthew, the first chapter, verses 18-21:

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 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 1:18-21)

It’s Christmas Eve! We have rightly been anticipating Christmas all month long and now it is only a few short hours away. And although we officially celebrate Christ’s birthday on Christmas Day, it’s good to remember he was born at night, a light in the darkness for all mankind.

Earlier in the service we lit the candles in the advent wreath, and we read a Scripture where Isaiah spoke of Jesus’ birth and gave him four names which revealed his character: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We took time the past four Sundays to look at these names and the meaning behind each of them, but tonight I want us to look at the name which was given to Christ at his birth – the true name above all names, the name of Jesus.

You may have noticed from our reading in Matthew that this was not a name that Mary or Joseph picked out, but it was a name revealed to them by God himself. Now people in those days normally didn’t even know whether they were having a boy or a girl – there were no ultrasounds – but because of God’s revelation, Mary and Joseph not only knew that Mary was having a boy, they knew his name in advance, too. His name would be Jesus.

Names have meanings, and there was a reason God gave this specific name for Jesus. In fact, we find that reason right here in Matthew 1:21: “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

I. Why is his name Jesus? Because He is the Savior
      – Luke 2:11; John 3:17

I want us to ask and answer three questions from this verse tonight. The first question is this: Why is his name Jesus? And the answer is: because he is the Savior. The angel told Joseph, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save.” Jesus is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament which literally means, “The Lord is salvation,” and so the name Jesus actually means “Savior.”

Do you remember what the angel said to the shepherds in the field on that first Christmas Eve? “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) God gave him the name Jesus is because he is the Savior.

That is good news for us tonight. John 3:17 says: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17) Jesus did not come as a judge to condemn the world. He did not come as an avenger to destroy the world. He came as a Savior to save the world.

Jesus came on a rescue mission, and oh how this world needs rescuing. We look at the various tragedies around us – personal tragedies in our own lives, national tragedies across our country, international tragedies around the world – and I think we can all agree this world needs rescuing. Jesus came to be that rescuer. Jesus came to save. That’s our first question. Why is his name Jesus? Because he is the Savior.

II. Whom does he save? He saves his people
      – Isaiah 45:22, 49:6; Luke 2:10; John 10:14-16

The second question is this: If Jesus is the Savior, whom does he save? Back to Matthew 1:21, the angel told Joseph: “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people.” Jesus came as Savior of the world, and yet the angel says he will save his people. So, who are these people whom Jesus came to save?

First of all, the Bible makes it clear that that the call of salvation goes out to the whole world. God says in Isaiah 45:22: “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22) The angel told the shepherds in the field: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10) T

And so, the call of salvation goes out to the ends of the earth. All people everywhere are urged to turn to the Lord and be saved, for he is God and there is no other. This is the sense in which Jesus is the Savior of the world, in that he is the only Savior of the world. If you are going to be saved, you must go through him. The good news of Christmas is that the Savior has come, and his name is Jesus.

And yet, even though the call of salvation goes out to the whole world, not everyone responds. Many reject Jesus as Savior and serve other gods instead. Some serve gods of other religions; many people just carve out their own path and do whatever they think is best for them. And so, although Jesus is a Savior for all, not all are saved, for sadly not all come to him for salvation.

Back to Matthew 1:21, the angel said, “He will save his people.” So, who are these people whom Jesus came to save? At first glance we might think the angel is speaking of the Jewish people. After all Jesus was Jewish. He came as the Messiah in fulfillment of all the Jewish prophecies. Perhaps the angel meant that Jesus came to save the Jewish people? And that would be partially correct, because many Jewish people have come to Jesus for salvation, but not all Jewish people receive Jesus as Savior. Sadly, as a whole, the Jewish people have not embraced Jesus as their Savior and Messiah.
So, who are these people that Jesus came to save? Jesus told the Jewish leaders of his day:

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:14-16)

Jesus’ mission was not just to save the Jewish people, but to form a new people composed of both Jews and Gentiles who together would be the new people of God. And of course, this was God’s plan all along. God said back in Isaiah 49:6: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

So, who are his people he came to save? All people everywhere – Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, great or small – all people everywhere who respond to the Christmas message by placing their faith in Jesus as Savior. The Christmas message is good news of great joy for all people – for Jesus is Savior to all who come to him.

III. From what does he save them? He saves them from their sins
      – Romans 6:23

We’ve asked and answered the first two questions: 1) Why is his name Jesus? Because he is the Savior. 2) Whom does he save? He saves his people. So, we have one more question to go: 3) From what does he save them? He saves them from their sins. Once again, going back to Matthew 1:21, the angel told Joseph: “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

There are many things Jesus could save you from. He could save you from debt. He could save you from illness. He could save you from trouble and trials in this life. But those are all temporary things of this world. The one pressing need that we all have have is we needed someone to save us from our sins.

Sin damages relationships and disrupts lives, but worst of all, sin separates us from God. The Bible says: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and so I need someone to rescue me, someone who can save me from my sins. Jesus came to be that Savior.

What does it mean that Jesus saves me from my sin? J.C. Ryle puts it beautifully in his comment on this verse:

The name Jesus means “Savior” … It is given to our Lord because “He saves His people from their sins.” This is His special role. He saves them from the guilt of sin, by cleansing them in His own atoning blood. He saves them from the dominion of sin by putting in their hearts the sanctifying Spirit. He saves them from the presence of sin, when He takes them out of this world to rest with Him. He will save them from all the consequences of sin, when He shall give them a glorious body at the last day. (J.C. Ryle, The Gospel of Matthew)

CONCLUSION:

1) Why is his name Jesus? Because he is the Savior. He is the only Savior. His very name means Savior. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

2) Whom does he save? He saves his people. The call of salvation goes out into all the world, and all who come to God through Christ become part of the people of God. Jesus said: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37)

3) From what does he save them? He saves them from their sins. Jesus saves you from the penalty of sin when you put your faith in him. He saves you from the power of sin through the Holy Spirit. One day he will deliver you from the very presence of sin when you go to live with him forever.

People, this is the good news of Christmas. The baby born on Christmas Eve is the Son of God who came to save his people from their sins. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His name is Jesus.

© Ray Fowler

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