Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

          I will assume that most of us here had gone by the process of choosing a name for a newborn baby. When we do it, we want the best name, a meaningful name because names are essential. The name we pick will not only be how the child will be called, but also who we expect this child to be.

Isaiah’s reading this morning is about names and signs. In today’s passage from the prophet Isaiah, tells King Ahaz to ask for a sign to strengthen his faith. He needed a sign because Judah was threatened with invasion by a mighty army. Ahaz, however, refuses to ask God for a sign. Isaiah replies that God will provide a sign, anyway. “Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.” The child, the prophet is talking about is God’s sign to king Ahaz, is a sign to Jerusalem as well; this child is a sign of God’s faithfulness, and when they see him, they will not see just a child, but a symbol of God’s protection. Emmanuel, the name of this child is the assurance that God is in their midst, even in captivity.   

          Biblical names are never accidents. Every name is a description of its holder. For example, the name Abraham, the greatest patriarch of Israel, means “father of a multitude” and he was indeed, father of multitude. In his name we find the promise he got from God.  Eva, the first woman, means “Mother of Life.” She is the beginning of all humankind.

          In Isaiah’s prophesy, God does the naming of the child symbol of salvation. This child will represent God’s protection and hope for His people, who were going through a dark time in their history. Many centuries later, the gospel of Matthew, picked up Isaiah’s prophesy and reminds us that Jesus, the One born in Bethlehem, is Immanuel in the fullest sense.

When Jesus was born in a manger somewhere in Bethlehem, God came down from heaven to abide with us on earth. Jesus is our Immanuel, our God with us. Jesus is the of our salvation. Matthew says, “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.” His name is a description of his ministry.

         In Matthew 11, while John the Baptist was in prison, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the One. The One announced by Isaiah. Jesus’ answer was, tell him what you see: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Those, my sisters, and brothers were signs of God’s Kingdom, signs of the Messiah, the Anointed One. Isaiah 61 describes the Messiah’s ministry like this: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

          When people saw Jesus giving sight to the blind, making the lame walk, the deaf hear, and the dead raised, they saw the signs of the kingdom; they saw Immanuel, God walking with His people. They also saw and experienced salvation. The woman condemned to die by stoning found salvation at Jesus’ feet. Zacchaeus, the tax collector, condemned by his people as a traitor, found salvation when Jesus came to his house. The loving God described in Psalm 23 was embodied in Jesus of Nazareth. The merciful God who heard Israel cry out when they were in Egypt was visible in Jesus of Nazareth. Moreover, we can talk about the lepers who were saved from their sickness, the blinds who were saved from their darkness, the demon-possessed, and many more who received salvation when they had an encounter with Jesus.      

         In a few more days, we will celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus, Jesus who is sign from and of God, Jesus whose name means salvation. Therefore, Christmas besides being a reminder of Jesus’ birth, it should also remind us of who we are. Christmas is a reminder of the name we bear, Christians. The name Christians means those who follow Christ, those who live according to his kingdom; those who have the same values of Christ. If Jesus Christ is a sign of God, who sent him and named him, then, we Christians are signs of Christ, and as Jesus -who bears his father’s mane- led others to his father, we must lead others to Christ our savior.

We are like spiritual signs to those who do not know Jesus. We must, -my brothers and sisters-, live a life in such a way that when people see us, they could see a sign to follow, a sign that will get them closer to Jesus and his kingdom. Sadly, many times, we are careless signs or no signs at all, and those who see us will get the wrong message.

          The name we have, Christians, is a name after the “name that is above any other name.” Let us live in such a way that will bring honor to that name. We are bearers of God’s name, and according to Colossians 3:14 He has clothed us with His love. God’s love is our uniform; when a person wears a uniform, he or she is expected to act according to the principles of the group that their dress or uniform represents.  

         Let me share with you -if I have not yet- a story a heard from Bishop white in New York; it’s about a young soldier in Alexander the Great’s army. One day, one of his officers came and told him about a young soldier who was brave in battle, a great person but he liked to kid around a lot and play jokes on his fellow soldiers and this was creating problems among the troops. The great general asked the officer to send the soldier to him. When the soldier came, Alexander asked the soldier, ‘what’s your name soldier? To his surprise, the soldier’ answer was, Alexander, sir. Alexander the Great kept silent for a while and then told the soldier: you have two options: change the way you behave or change your name.

         Emmanuel means “God with us”; Christians means -and I believe I’m not stretching God’s Word- “Christ with us, in us and thru us.

During this celebration brothers and sisters let us remember who you are; let us remember the name we bear and let us act according to your name.