Christmas is widely regarded as a great time of year because we do things we don’t do at other times. It distracts us from all the problems of this world such as Syria, domestic violence and the ice epidemic. It is like a tropical island. We need to focus, however, on the child being born into this world, God foreknowing the suffering his beloved Son would have to endure.

In this passage we find that we can think of God’s Son by the two names he is known. Firstly, ‘Jesus’ because he would save his people from their sins. This is why Christmas is so powerful in contrast to every other religious ‘system’. It points us to Easter and the cross.  You will never be good enough but, through trusting in him, Jesus saves.

The second name for God’s Son is ‘Emmanuel’. This name means ‘God with us’. Overseas children in orphanages often receive financial aid from people in other countries. This is a good thing but they really know that someone loves them when they come and live with them where they are. We can know God’s love by seeing what he has done in the person of his Son coming among us. This shows not only his love though but also how much we can trust him. Think of his two names … will you have the time to love him?