Jesus

joy in the heart. I rejoice in that expression on my own account, for it gives me my share of the delight own mouth. Here also is a portion for you who are listening. It is melody in the ear. If my voice should be harsh and my words discordant, you will yet have music of the choicest order, for the name itself is essential melody and my whole sermon will ring with its silver note. May both speaker and hearer join in the third word of Bernard’s sentence, and may we all find it to be joy in our hearts, a jubilee within of Him. He is the life, therefore shall our hearts rejoice in Him.

comes in connection with it. Our thoughts will turn this morning to the first use of the name in connecsuggestive of comfort. The person to whom that name was first revealed was Joseph, a carpenter, a humble man, a working man, unknown and undistinguished except by the justice of his character. To the artisan of Nazareth was this name first imparted. It is not, therefore, a title to be monopolized by the ears of princes, sages, priests, warriors or men of wealth. It is a name to be made a household word among common people. He is the people’s Christ, for of old it was said of Him, “I have exalted one chosen out of the people.” Let every carpenter and every worker of every sort rejoice with all other sorts of men in was the angel of the Lord who, in the visions of the night, whispered that charming name into his ear, and henceforth angels are in league with men and gather to one standard, moved by the same watchword with it? Then is there a bond of sympathy between us and angelic spirits, and we are come this day not only “to the general assembly and church of the firstborn,” but “to an innumerable company of angels,” by whom that name is regarded with reverent love.

Nor is the condition of Joseph, when he heard this name, altogether without instruction. The angel spoke to him in a dream. That name is so soft and sweet that it breaks no man’s rest, but rather yields a peace unrivalled, the peace of God. With such a dream Joseph’s sleep was more blessed than his waking. The name has evermore this power, for, to those who know it, it unveils a glory brighter than dreams have ever imaged. Under its power young men see visions and old men dream dreams, and these because of the words with which it was accompanied, for they were meant to remove perplexity from Joseph’s mind and some of them ran thus—“Fear not.” Truly, no name can banish fear like the name of forgets to die, he hopes to live, he rises out of the deadly lethargy of his hopelessness and looking upward, he sees a reconciled God and no longer fears. Especially, brethren, this name is full of rare delights when we meditate upon the infinite preciousness of the person to whom it was assigned. Ah, here is a Jonathan’s wood dripping with honey from every bough and he that tastes it shall have his eyes enlightened. We have no common Savior, for neither earth nor heaven could produce His equal. At the time when the name was given, His full person had not been seen by mortal eyes, for He lay as yet concealed. But soon He came forth, having been born of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, a matchless man. He bears our nature, but not our corruption. He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, but yet in His flesh there is no sin. This Holy One is the Son of God, and yet He is the Son of man. This surpassing excellence of nature makes His name most precious.

I shall ask the exercise of your patience while I consider seven things in reference to this transporting name. It is as ointment poured forth and its scent is varied so as to contain the essence of all fragrances. These seven things will be seen very plainly by you if you continue to look at the text and its connection.

I. First, we shall remark that THE NAME OF JESUS IS A NAME DIVINELY ORDERED AND EXPOUNDED. According to the text, the angel brought a message from the Lord and said, “You shall has other names of office and relationship, but this is specially and peculiarly His own personal name and it is the Father who has thus named Him. Rest assured, therefore, that it is the best name that He could bear. God would not have given Him a name of secondary value, or about which there would be a trace of dishonor. The name is the highest, brightest and noblest of names. It is the glory of our Lord to be a Savior. To the best that was ever born of woman, God has given the best name that any son of man could bear. JESUS is the most appropriate name that our Lord could receive. Of this we are quite certain, for the Father knew all about Him and could name Him well. He knows much more about the Lord Christ than all saints and angels put together, for “No man knows the Son but the Father.” To perfection ior and is best described by that term. God, the Father, who knows Him best, sees this to be His grand has selected it, we may be sure that it is a name which must be true, and must be verified by facts of no must be upon a grand scale, continually, abundantly, and in a most apparent manner. Neither will God refuse to accept the work which He has done, since by the gift of that name He has commissioned Him by each one of us, when we remember from where it came? He is not a Savior of our own setting up, but God the everlasting Father has set Him forth for our deliverer and Savior, saying, “You shall call His name Jesus.” He shall save His people from their sins.” “Savior” is the meaning of the name, but it has a fuller sense hidden within, for in its Hebrew form it means, “the salvation of the Lord,” or “the Lord of salvation,” or “the Savior.” The angel interprets it, “He shall save,” and the word for, “He,” is very emphatic. According to many scholars, the divine name, the incommunicable title of the Most High is contained in signifies, “Savior.” It is given to our Lord because “He saves”—not according to any temporary and common salvation, from enemies and troubles, but He saves from spiritual enemies and especially from sins . Joshua of old was a savior, Gideon was a savior, David was a savior, but the title is given to our Lord above all others because He is a Savior in a sense in which no one else is or can be—He saves His people from their sins. The Jews were looking for a Savior. They expected one who would break the Roman yoke, and save them from being under bondage to a foreign power. But our divine Lord came not for such a purpose. He came to be a Savior of a more spiritual sort and to break quite another yoke, by saving His people from their sins. The word, “save,” is very rich in meaning, its full and exact force preservation. He gives health. He is all that is salutary to His people. In the fullest and broadest sense He saves His people. The original word means to preserve, to keep, to protect from danger, and to secure.

The grandest meanings generally dwell in the shortest words, and in this case the word “save” is a well salvation,” as if he felt that he could never estimate its greatness (Heb. 2:3). He also speaks of it as, “eternal salvation” (Heb. 5:9), even as Isaiah said, “Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting very exposition the eternal God guarantees the success of the Savior. He declares that He shall save His people, and save His people He must. God Himself sets Him forth to us as— Bearer of the sinner’s load.” Thus we have a name, dear friends, which we have not to explain for ourselves. As we did not choose it, so, we are not left to expound it. God who gave the text has preached us the sermon. He who appointed the name has given us the reason for it, so that we are not left in ignorance or uncertainty. We might their sins,” and this is for all time since He always has a people, and these people always need to be the sweetness and power it ever had and shall retain it till all the chosen people are saved, and then forever and ever.

Moreover, in addition to expounding this name, the Holy Spirit by the evangelist Matthew, has been pleased to refer us to the synonym of it and so to give us its meaning by comparison. Let me read you the next verses. “Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” If when our Lord was born and named “Je- sus,” the old prophecy which said that He should be called Emmanuel was fulfilled, it follows that the the Savior. By coming down from heaven into this earth and taking upon Himself our nature, He bridged the otherwise bridgeless gulf between God and man. By suffering in that human nature and imparting, through His divine nature, an infinite efficacy to those sufferings, He removed that which would have heaven, I love Your music all the better because it is in such sweet harmony with another which rings melodiously in my ears, the name Emmanuel, God with us. Our Savior is God and therefore able. He is God with us, and therefore pitiful. He is divine and therefore infinitely wise, but He is human and therefore full of compassion.

comes to us as an apple of gold and it is attended by an exposition which places it in a basket of silver.

The name is precious as the golden mercy seat and over it burns the light of the divine glory, so that we may not stumble at it, but may rejoice in the great light. It lets us know the very heart of God in reference to His Son, why He sent Him, what He meant Him to be and to do, and in what manner He would glorify Him. Salvation is the joyful sound which rings from the bells of our High Priest’s garment as He comes forth to bless us. God, who spoke to our fathers by His prophets, now speaks to us by His Son whose name is Salvation. Is there not a mint of joy in this?

II. Secondly, although this name was thus chosen by God, OUR LORD WAS ACTUALLY CALLED BY THE NAME OF JESUS BY MAN. To this I call your special notice. “She (Mary) shall the child’s name, but His reputed father must announce it. Both Joseph and Mary, according to the divine command, united in calling the child by the appointed name. See, then, that the name which is chosen of God is fully accepted by instructed men. Those who are taught of God joyfully recognize that He was revealed to them. They only needed to be told who He was and why He came, how He was born and what was the object of His incarnation and they at once accepted the divine message and named the Savior. Many there are who think they know our Lord, but since they only speak of Him as a prophet, a teacher, or a leader and care not for Him as a Savior, we are clear that they are in ignorance as to His chief character. His first name, His personal name they know not. The Holy Spirit cannot have revealed Christ to any man if that man remains ignorant of His saving power. He who does not know Him as Jesus, the Savior, does not know Him at all. Certain anti-Christian Christians are craftily extolling Christ blood and by His death delivering us from sin. I am not sure that they follow His example of holy living, but they are very loud in extolling it, and all with the purpose of drawing off men’s thoughts from the chief character and main object of our Lord’s sojourn among us, namely, the deliverance of His people good man, a great teacher, a noble exemplar, but as the Savior of sinners.

Now, Joseph and Mary not only believed, so as to give the young child the name in their own minds, but in due time they took Him up to the temple and presented Him according to the law and there public – Him in the most solemn manner according to His ordinance, and should desire in all proper places to confess Him as the Savior. The infant Christ was committed to the care of Joseph and Mary to nurse and protect. Wonder of wonders, that HE should need a guardian, who is the Preserver of men and the Shepherd of His saints! In His feebleness as a baby He needed parental care and in caring for Him, Joseph and Mary did not hesitate to avow their faith by giving Him a name which indicated His destiny. Nor did they refuse to declare His name in the temple before the priests and the congregation. Now, in a certain sense Christ is committed to the keeping of all His people. This day we have a charge to keep, we are to preserve His gospel in the world, to maintain His truth and to publish His salvation, and therefore, we nent. Others shall say what they please about Him and if they speak well of His character in any respect we will be glad that they shall do it, however little they may know. But this is our peculiar testimony that our Lord saves from sin. Nothing is more prominent about a man than his name, we can hardly mention him without pronouncing his name, and so we feel that we cannot mention our Lord without and loves righteousness, but He is first known to men as the friend of sinners. He is the faithful and true witness, the prince of the kings of the earth, but His first work is to save. After that, He teaches and rules His saved ones. Sunken in sin, men need to be redeemed from that tremendous evil and the consequent wrath upon it, and this awful need is met by Jesus, the Savior.

So, beloved, you see that the name chosen of God is given to Him by all those who know Him and to cradle, what is He now that He is exalted in the heavens? As Emmanuel, God with us, His very incarnawe have His atonement, and above His atonement His resurrection, and beyond that His ascension, and to crown all, His perpetual intercession? How grandly does the title befit Him, now that He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He always lives to make intercession for them! If in the arms of the Virgin He is the Savior, what is He on the throne of God? If wrapped in now that His infancy and childhood are over and He is exalted far above all principalities and powers? If He has, by one sacrifice, perfected forever them that are set apart? What is He now that He sits at the right hand of God, expecting till His enemies are made His footstool? Let us all unite in calling our Lord

III. THE NAME HAD BEEN TYPICALLY WORN BY ANOTHER, BUT IS NOW RESERVED could have done. Joshua overcame the enemies of God’s people. Though they were very many and very strong and had cities walled to heaven and chariots of iron, yet in the name of Jehovah, as captain of the Lord’s host, Joshua smote them. Even so does our glorious Joshua smite our sins and all the powers of darkness, and utterly destroys our spiritual enemies. Before Joshua, Amalek is smitten, Jericho falls and inheritance for Israel, took them across the Jordan, settled them in a land that flowed with milk and honey and gave to each tribe and to each man to stand in his lot which God had ordained for him. Precisely entailed. Though Joshua could not give to the people the heavenly Sabbatismos, or rest of the highest kind, yet he gave them rest most pleasant to them, so that every man sat under his own vine and fig tree, none making him afraid. But our glorious Joshua has given us infinite, eternal rest, for He is our peace and they that know Him have entered into rest. Joshua, the son of Nun, caused the people to serve the Lord all his days, but he could not save the nation from their sins, for after his death they grievously went astray. Our Joshua reserves to Himself a people zealous for good works, for He always lives and is still rides forth, conquering and to conquer, and all His people have victory through His blood. Well is His name called Jesus.

Jeshua or Joshua. He was the high priest who came at the head of the people on their return from Babylon. He is spoken of by the prophet Zechariah in terms which make him a fit representative of each of forever, He remains a priest according to the power of an endless life. He heads the march from Babylon and He leads His people back to Jerusalem.

ness was seen in their children’s names. Their little ones were by their hopes named as saviors, but saviors they were not. How common are nominal saviors! “Lo here,” they say, “here is a savior.” “Lo, there,” they cry, “another savior.” These have the name but not the power, and now, according to the Prince and a Savior and truly saves His people from their sins. Other saviors do but mock the hopes of mankind, they promise fairly, but they utterly deceive. This holy child, this blessed, glorious God with us, has truly brought us salvation and He says, “Look unto Me and be you saved, all you ends of the one and only Savior. He, and none but He, shall save His people. He shall save by His own act and deed, He and not another. Singly and alone He shall save His people. Personally, and not by another, in His name and on His behalf He shall, by Himself, purge away sin. He shall do all the work and leave none shall completely and perfectly save His people from their sins. The name has been, in a minor sense, applied to others before, but now none else may wear it, since there is no other Savior, and none other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved.

IV. The fourth point grows out of the wording of the text. THIS NAME JESUS IDENTIFIES OUR for there could be no Savior if there were none to save, and there could be no Savior from sin if there were no sinners. Notice, dear friends, the all-important connection here revealed between our Lord and His people, since His very name hangs on it. His proper, personal name has no meaning apart from His people.

“He shall save His people.” It does not say God’s people, for then it would have been understood as meaning only the Jews, or it would have been supposed to refer to some good and holy persons who belonged to God, apart from the Mediator. But, “He shall save His people”—those who are His own and personally belong to Him. These are evidently a very peculiar people, a people set apart as Christ’s own treasure. They are a people that belong to God incarnate—Emmanuel’s people. These He saves. Who are they but His elect, whom His Father gave Him before the earth was? Who are they but those whose names are engraved on the palms of His hands and written on His heart? Who are they but those for whom He counted down the price of redemption? Who are they but those for whom He became a surety, whose smart He has borne? Who are they but the numbered sheep that will be required at His hands by the great Father, that He should render them back by count and number, saying, “I have kept those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours”? Yes, the Lord knows them that are His and He preserves them unto His eternal kingdom and glory. “He shall save His people.” Do you not see that this given, but still in the depths of its meaning it has a special bearing upon a chosen people. It has a ring of sovereignty about it and is all the sweeter because of this, to those who see in their own salvation an exhibition of distinguishing grace.

Now the question arises, who are His people? We are eager to know who they are and we are glad to find that His people, be they who they may, need to be saved and shall be saved, for it is written, “He shall save His people.” It is not said, “He shall reward His people for their righteousness,” nor is it promised that He shall, “save them from becoming sinners,” but “He shall save His people from their sins.” Do you need saving brethren? Has the Holy Spirit taught you that you need salvation? Let your hearts be encouraged. This is the character of all His people. He never had a chosen one who could do without washing in the Savior’s blood. If you are righteous in yourself, you are not one of His people. If you were never sick in soul, you are none of the folk that the Great Physician has come to heal. If you no needless errand and undertakes no unnecessary work. If you feel yourselves to need saving, then cast yourselves upon Him, for such as you are He came to save.

Notice yet again, the very gracious, but startling fact that our Lord’s connection with His people, lies in the direction of their sins. This is amazing condescension. He is called Savior in connection with His people, but it is in reference to their sins, because it is from their sins that they need to be saved. If they known on earth. That is a wonderful text—did you ever meditate upon it?—“Who gave Himself for our sins according to the Scriptures.” As Martin Luther says, He never gave Himself for our righteousness, but He did give Himself for our sins. Sin is a horrible evil, a deadly poison, yet it is this which gives Jesus His title when He overcomes it. What a wonder to think upon! The first link between my soul and Christ is, not my goodness, but my badness, not my merit, but my misery, not my standing, but my falling, not my riches, but my need. He comes to visit His people, yet not to admire their beauties, but to remove their deformities, not to reward their virtues, but to forgive their sins. O you sinners, I mean real sinners, not you that call yourselves so because you are told you are such, but you who feel yourselves to be guilty before God, here is good news for you. O you self-condemned sinners, who feel that if you that He will fulfill His own name and exhibit His power in you. Only confess to Him your sin and He will save you from it. Only believe in Him and He will be your salvation.

V. The fifth point is very clear and well worthy of note. THE NAME OF “JESUS” IS ONE WHICH from sin. Why do men write lives of Christ who know nothing about His main business and objective?

Why do some preach about Christ who do not know the very essence, and heart of Him? Think of knowing Milton, but not as a poet, and Bacon, but not as a philosopher! There is no knowing our Lord, if He is not known as a Savior, for He is that or nothing. Those who fall short of His salvation do not even emplar, though indeed He is perfection itself, and we long to walk in His footsteps. But His name is He is anointed to this very end. His very name is a sham if He does not save His people from their sins.

upon Himself. Do you think that is a strong expression? It is warranted by the Scriptures. “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Christ’s shoulders bore the guilt of His people, and because He took their load, His people are free and have henceforth no burden of sin to weigh them down. He saves His people through His personal substitution, by standing in their stead and suffering in their place. There is no other way of salvation but by His vicarious sufferings and death.

Then He saves them by bearing the penalty due to their sin. Where the sin lies, the penalty falls.

“The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.” “He was made a curse for us.” “Christ also has suffered for us.” He died, “the just for the unjust, to bring us to God.” He bore the wrath of God which was due to us. He has taken the sin and paid the penalty, and now quibblers come in and falsely say that we teach that a man is to believe the dogma of atonement and then he is saved and may live as he likes. They know better. They know that they misrepresent us, for we always teach that this great work of substitution and penalty-bearing by Christ works in the person who partakes in its benefits, love to God, gratitude to Christ and consequent hatred of all sin. And this change of heart is the very core and essence of salvation. This is how Christ saves His people from their sin—by rescuing them, by the force of His love, out of the power, tyranny and dominion of sins, which before then had the mastery over them. I knew what it was to strive against sin as a moral person, seeking to overcome it. But I found myself mastered by sin, like Samson when his hair was lost, and the Philistines with me than any I knew before. I find weapons with which to fight my sin that I never knew how to handle before and a new strength has been given me by the Holy Spirit. “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” This is the power which drives out the vipers of sin from the soul—the through the power of the Holy Spirit, renewed in heart. He has fresh objects secure him, fresh motives sway him, and thus Jesus saves His people from their sins.

Beloved, if we had space at this time, I should like to speak about how completely Christ saves His people from their sins, how when He comes in He turns out the strong man armed with mighty force, how that strong armed man seeks to come back again and does, as far as he can, gain a partial entrance, the living God. His saints shall be without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, and no sign that the devil ever dwelt within them shall remain upon them. Viewing each one of their risen bodies as a temple of God, you shall search those bodies through and not find a trace of the dominion of sin. You shall look shall be no scar or speck to show that sin was ever there. So completely shall He save His people from their sins that, they shall be fit to dwell with angels. Better—they shall be fit to dwell with God. Better

VI. This NAME OF JESUS IS ONE WHICH IS COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED BY FACTS. It was given Him before He had done anything. While yet He was a baby, or before His trembling feet had Many a child has had a grand name and his life has contradicted it. I remember a grave on which there is the name of a child, “Sacred to the memory of Methuselah Coney, who died aged six months.” His parents were mightily mistaken when they called him Methuselah. Many other names are equally inapproname which He well deserves. Come to the Christ and see there the many that once rioted in sin, and rolled in the mire, but they are washed, but they are sanctified, and now they rejoice in holiness. Who and hear saints telling of His love, and speaking of the heaven which is already dawning in their souls.

Climb up to heaven and behold the snow-white host, glittering like the sun in spotless purity. I ask them from where they came? The reply is that they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood power. All glory be to Him! When He shall come from heaven with a shout, and all His hosts shall be with Him, when the day of the supper of the Lamb shall come and the bride has made herself ready, and she that is the queen all glorious within, wearing her raiment of worked gold shall sit down at the table of God with her glorious husband—then shall it be seen that He has saved His church, His people, from their sins.

VII. Last of all, THIS NAME IS CHRIST’S PERSONAL NAME FOREVER. It is a home name. It belong to His family, for he that believes in Him is His father, mother, sister and brother, and that most dear and familiar name by which He was known at home is always in our mouths. He is the Lord and we love. They who loved Him best gave Him the name, especially His mother, who pondered everything about Him in her heart. It is the name which moves our affections and fires our souls— With sweetness fills my breast.” of the Jews,” was written on His cross. That is His resurrection name. That is His gospel name, which by whom is preached to you the remission of sins.” And this, beloved, is His heaven name. They sing to it. Let us love it from this day and forever. Amen.