“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.”
Matthew 1:21 NIV
Name Him
The Cree name for the Saskatchewan River was “Kisiskatchewanisipi,” meaning “swift-flowing river.” Through common use, this eight-syllable name was shortened to Saskatchewan. In 1882, it became the name of one of the districts of the Northwest Territories. Saskatchewan was originally inhabited by First Nations of the Athapaskan, Algonquian and Siouan linguistic groups. Three Athapaskan nations lived in the north: the Chipewyan, the Beaver and the Slavey. Two Algonquian nations — the Cree and the Blackfoot — occupied the central part of the province. The south was inhabited predominantly by the Siouan nations — the Assiniboine and the Gros Ventres.
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Names are important. It is why parents spend so much time selecting a name for a baby. Many Christian parents check to ensure that the name of their baby has a Biblical meaning that is appropriate. They want to honour the Lord in the selection of the name of their child. God had chosen the name for the Messiah long before He was welcomed into the world on the night of His birth. We read this in Matthew 1:21: “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.” In this case, an angel was speaking to Joseph, giving clear instructions about what name they are to give to the child that would be born to Mary, his betrothed. He would be named Jesus, a name that means “Yahweh saves.” Jesus came for one purpose – to redeem all that had been lost when sin entered into the world through Adam and Eve. So, His name had to fit the role that He had. No wonder there is no other name by which we must be saved.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley