What I Think Of When I Hear Jesus' Name

Introduction

Whenever I think of Christmas, there are a lot of names I think of immediately:

Santa Claus

Kris Kringle

St. Nick

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer

I think of all the names of the people on my list that I had to shop for this Christmas

I think of the names of gifts I would like to receive this Christmas.

But the one name that transcends all the others is the name:

JESUS

Christmas is a time to reflect upon the name of Jesus, particularly because Christmas is His Birthday.

And so we celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas.

Matthew 1:18-21 shares with us a picture of the very first Christmas.

It says:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed (engaged) to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought on these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

The angel told Joseph what to name his son.

The reason the angel told Joseph to name the boy, Jesus, is because of what that name means.

The name Jesus, means Savior.

• one who rescues another from distress

• one who risks his own life to save another

• one who saves another person from certain death.

Tonight, I want to share with you what I am reminded of whenever I hear someone speak the name of Jesus.

Whenever I hear the name Jesus, I am reminded of:

1. THE GREATEST PROBLEM EVERY PERSON FACES.

If I were to ask you tonight, what’s the worst problem you’re facing right now, what would you say?

I put together a list of potential problems you might be having.

If I said to you, what’s the greatest problem you’re facing right now…some of you might say…

1. The worst problem I’m facing right now is that I’m having a bad hair day.

2. The worst problem I’m having is that Christmas is 8 days away and I still haven’t finished my shopping.

3. The worst problem I’m having is that I’ve got to sit here and listen to you tell me what my worst problem is.

4. The worst problem I’m facing is that I’m underpaid, overworked and underappreciated.

5. The worst problem I’m facing is that I don’t have a job.

6. The worst problem I’m facing is that I don’t have any health insurance.

7. The worst problem I’m facing is that my health is going downhill.

8. The worst problem I’m facing is that I feel lonely, like no one really cares.

9. The worst problem I’m facing is that my kids are always getting into trouble, or that they never listen to me.

10. The worst problem I’m facing is that my marriage is dying a slow death and I don’t know what to do about it.

11. The worst problem I’m facing is that someone I love has died, and I don’t know how to go on with life.

I agree, those all qualify as problems. Some are more important than others.

But tonight, would you allow me to suggest to you that in reality none of those problems is your greatest problem.

Can I let you in on a little secret?

Verse 21 tells us what is the greatest problem every person faces:

“And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their (bad hair day, from their unemployment… from their sins.”

According to the Bible, the greatest problem every person faces is “his/her sin”.

There is a Christmas card that reads,

• “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator.

• If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent a scientist.

• If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent an economist.

• If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.

• But our greatest need was forgiveness, so He sent us a Savior.”

That’s why Matthew says:

“And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

What is sin?

John Bunyan said, “Sin is the dare of God’s justice. Sin is the rape of God’s mercy…It is the jeer of His patience, sleight of His power and contempt of his love.”