and you shall call his name Jesus

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.- Matthew 1:21

We hear of things being of “Biblical proportions”. When I read the Bible, I like to try and picture the things as if I was there. Try and picture how except for the time and place, the same stories could play out today.

your son will save us

I used to watch a cartoon called King of the Hill. There was a schoolmate of Bobby’s named Dooley. His nickname should have been “Stark Reality”. He was the glum minimalist who pointed out reality with a monotone statement: “Your wife divorced you.” or “Your dad lost his job.”

I can see Dooley telling Joseph “Your fiancee is pregnant.”

It would have been a shock and disappointment to find out. But the Bible says that Joseph was a good man and decided to end the engagement discreetly, without embarrassing anyone or making a big deal out of it. While he was considering his options:

Matthew 1:20-21- … 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.

As we know, Joseph listened to the angel and accepted the calling to raise and be a father for the Son of God.  And they called his name Jesus- which means to deliver, rescue, or save.

That’s the meaning of Christmas that I try to remember. I am a flawed individual, and fall short often. A rescuer has come to save me from a hopeless state of mind and body.

A baby was born who would save his people. And they called his name Jesus.

Merry Christmas!