The One born on Christmas Day was given the name, “Jesus” in accordance with the instructions given to Joseph. The angel told him to call the child JESUS “for He will save His people from their sins” (Mat.1:21). Jesus’ mission was a saving mission. He Himself said, For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). We also read in the Scriptures, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).
The Christ Child was also to be called by another name according to the prophesy of Isaiah 7:14. Matthew cites this prophecy, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). We do not have a record of anyone actually calling or greeting Jesus as Immanuel. It was not intended to be His name in the same way “Jesus” was. Rather, “Immanuel” signified that in the person f Jesus, God was with us. John wrote, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The Word Who is God became flesh. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, and received Him as your Lord, “God is with you! He will be with you forever! What a comfort in these times in which we live!