The Name

On to week #2. Now I’ve REALLY taken to meddlin’ now! I mention in sermon #2 that the name of the Child found in the manger is very important. Joseph was told in a vision what name to give this Child to be born to Mary. (The same name was given by an angel to Mary in Luke’s gospel.) His name is to be "Jesus." Why is that important?
In our December-cut Christmas, the name hardly matters at all. He might has well be named George, Paul, John, or Ralph, for the name plays no part in our celebration except telling us what to call this Child. But in the Director’s-cut Christmas, the name is vitally important. After all, BOTH Joseph and Mary are given the same name for Him. "Jesus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew Yeshua, or "Joshua," which in Hebrew means "God saves." Saves from what? Sin. The built-in human bent toward self-deception, self-gratification, blame-shifting, rebellion against God. It’s not a pretty sight. Very common in everyday life, but have you ever seen any Christmas cards that depict sin? Probably not. Yet sin – the almost infinite variety of ways we screw up our lives and the lives of those around us – is very much a part of the Director’s cut Christmas. The very name of the Child – Jesus – is in fact, a reminder that God knows the day to day reality of our lives. And that God does not leave us to our own devices, but intervenes to save us – from ourselves.
"So you mean to say even Christmas reminds us of our sinful nature?" Afraid so.
I was reminded of this through an incident that happened to a friend years ago. Let’s call him Paul. He gave a present to his brother, Ned. Ned opened Paul’s gift, but instead of being grateful, he started complaining that Paul’s gift cost less to buy than Ned’s gift to Paul. They actually got into a big argument about this. I’m not sure whether Ned’s sin would be called "greed" or "coveting," but either way, it’s on the "big list" of sins.
Now you see what I mean about taking to meddlin’! Who wants to think about our sinfulness during Christmas? But it is very much a part of the Director’s-cut Christmas. The Christ Child would not have needed to come into the world, there would be no need of Christmas, if it were not for the fact that human beings stubbornly insist on doing life "my way" (as Frank Sinatra crooned). "Jesus" came to save us from all that, to offer us a vision of doing life "God’s way."
So next time you’re opening a Christmas present, why don’t you silently confess your sins!