Christmas 2025 Part #1 — The Promise of a Name

The prophets had written of a virgin, of a child, and of a king who would reign forever. In a small town, a carpenter named Joseph wrestled the fact that his betrothed, Mary, was with child. While he likely would have rejoiced had they been married and Mary was with child, this wasn’t the case, for he knew the child was not his.

So, Joseph thought to quietly break off the betrothal. While he was thinking on these things, we read in Matthew 1:20-23:

“But while he thought on these things, 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. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Can you imagine Joseph waking from that dream with the weight of the words spoken to him still ringing in his ears? The very name he was commanded to give this child was the same Name by which the world would one day bow. This Son, whom he would cradle in his arms, was the salvation of all mankind.

Now, the angel didn’t leave Joseph guessing as to what was happening. He didn’t say, “Mary will have a son, name Him whatever you wish.” He gave a name, JESUS, and a reason: “for He shall save His people from their sins.” In that single sentence, it was revealed both the identity and the mission of the Child. The name Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation.”

The world celebrates Christmas with lights and laughter, but heaven celebrated it with purpose. This was not merely the birth of a baby but the arrival of our Saviour. This Christmas, remember that the beauty of Bethlehem is not in who came to see Him, but in why He came. The name Jesus still carries power, still offers pardon, and still brings peace with God. There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

While it’s true that December 25th is not the day our Lord was born, the world has deemed it a day we should take to pause and remember the miracle that changed all of history. Truthfully, every day should be Christmas for the believer and a celebration that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”

If Christ had not come, there could be no cross. If He had not been born, He could not have died for our sins. The cradle and the cross are forever linked with one beginning what the other would finish. Without Jesus entering this world, He could not have been both fully God and fully Man. Without being both, He could not have bridged the infinite gap between a holy God and sinful men.

The birth of Christ is more than a footnote of a holiday season, it is the foundation of redemption. God wrapped Himself in flesh so that one day He could wrap us in His grace.

So yes, while December 25 is not the date Jesus was born, it marks the truth that matters most: Jesus came.