Advent 4 – “What’s In A Name?” Matthew 1:18-25

Advent 4 – “What’s In A Name?” Matthew 1:18-25
Vicar Darren Harbaugh

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Intro: What’s in a name?
Being in charge of naming a living being is a daunting prospect. It’s not all that difficult when choosing a name for a dog or cat, but a child? There’s lot of things to consider:
What if the name is too popular or too trendy or too unusual or too traditional or too difficult to spell or pronounce? What if a family member or friend doesn’t like the name? What about the meaning of the name? What’s in a name anyways? Well, for Mary and Joseph, there was a lot in a name; two names to be exact – Immanuel and Jesus. Included in these names was an amazing promise of hope in a time of fear and doubt.

I. The sign of Immanuel was Good news for Joseph and Mary
A. Joseph and Mary lived in a time of fear and doubt. 1:18-19
As our reading from Matthew begins, we see that times are tough for society in general. Judah is an occupied territory, under Roman rule. And times are tough personally for Joseph and Mary. It was one of those critical moments in life. Joseph and Mary were legally pledged to be married - more than what we would consider an engagement, but less than a full-fledged marriage. Then things got complicated. Mary was pregnant and Joseph knew that the child wasn’t his, so there must have been another man involved, right?
Joseph was a very religious Jew, careful to keep the law. The way he saw it, he had two options: 1) he could really make an example of Mary, charging her with adultery and publicly divorce her. 2) He could keep things quiet and give her a letter of divorce without stating the reason.
Joseph chose number 2, the milder option. Maybe he didn’t want the publicity, maybe he was a nice guy, who knows, but before he had the chance to carry out his plan he decided to sleep on the decision.
This proved to be a very fortuitous nap. Perhaps Joseph was following the age-old advice of getting some rest or even waiting overnight before going through with a decision. Maybe he thought it would bring more clarity, maybe he was weary and worn out from all the stress and anxiety. Whatever it was, he did not anticipate how refreshing his sleep would be.

B. God sent an angel to give Joseph hope 1:20
An Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying “Do not fear to take Mary as your wife! Her baby is from the Holy Spirit.” At just the right time, God intervened. All hope was lost. Joseph’s decision was made. But then God stepped in.

C. God gave Joseph the sign of Immanuel 1:21-23
God sent an angel, but more importantly he gave a sign, included in the child’s name. Joseph and Mary did not have to deliberate over what to name their baby. God left no room for creative license on behalf of the couple. The angel said, "You shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. That’s what “Jesus” means – that name means Yahweh, the Lord, saves. Who this child would be was included in his name. Matthew adds that all this took place to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy: ”Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call his name Immanuel.” “Immanuel.” That name means something too -“God with us.” These two names say it all about the Child - God with us who will save his people from their sins.

D. Joseph believed God 1:24-25
Joseph woke up and believed God. He did as he was commanded. The sign of the name that the angel gave Joseph reassured him not only of Mary’s purity but also of God’s big plan from the beginning of the world that was now coming to fulfillment. Joseph took Mary home to be his wife. For Mary and Joseph, the sign of Immanuel was one of forgiveness and promise.

II. What does the sign of Immanuel mean for you?
A We live in a time of fear and doubt.
What about us? Like Mary and Joseph, we too live in a time of fear and doubt. Times are tough for our world in general. There are still wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, among the various other conflicts that rage around the globe. Our economy still leaves much to be desired, many continue to lose homes and jobs. Fear and doubt, sin and decay all around we see.
For many of us, times are personally tough and complicated. Perhaps you have stress and anxiety and fear because you look to the things of this world for security, meaning and significance rather than fearing, loving and trusting in God above all things. Maybe you are weary and worn out from the daily continual temptations of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, anger, envy and pride. You may be at a point where hope is hard to come by.

B. God sent Jesus to give us Hope Matt 28:10, Rev 1:17, Romans 1:7, Mt 1:21)
No matter what it is that causes you to fear and to doubt, all hope is not lost. At just the right time, God intervenes and steps in. Jesus’ words to us provide hope: “Do not be afraid;” “Fear not!” Jesus promises Peace. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Peace, true peace, is found in Christ.

C. All this God gives to us through Jesus by the sign of Immanuel (matt28:20
1. Jesus – “Yahweh Saves” Matt 1:21
We have peace because, Jesus whose name means, Yahweh, the Lord, saves, came to save his people from their sins. We are God’s people. But we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have missed the mark. We have sinned in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and what we’ve left undone. We have not loved God with all our heart and we have not loved our neighbors as our selves. Because of these sins, we justly deserve God’s temporal and eternal punishment; destruction of body and soul here in time and hereafter in eternity. A frightening proposition indeed.
To be saved from these sins is salvation indeed. We need someone not just able to alleviate the annoying inconveniences we experience in this life but one who is mighty enough to bring eternal, all-encompassing salvation. To Save us. To rescue us from the worst dangers, of sin, death, hell and Satan. We need one who will continue to keep us safe and secure so that nothing may ever harm us. “You ask who this may be? The Lord of Hosts is he. Christ Jesus Mighty Lord; God’s only son adored.”
The only one mighty enough to bring such salvation is he who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate and made man.
The long-expected Jesus, who was born to set his people free, releases you from your fears and sins. They can no longer inflict their deadly damning power on you. On your own, sin will cling to you closer than a shadow and will cling to you forever, but God’s own son Jesus has freed and rescued and saved you.

2. Immanuel – “God with us” (Matt 1:23, Matt 28:20)
Jesus is God in human flesh. Jesus is Immanuel – the name that means, God is with us. By coming in the flesh, God took our fears and our conflicts upon himself. Then that flesh, God with us in the flesh, was killed to take them all away. That flesh, Immanuel, God with us, is still present with us now in the Lord’s Supper, the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, is present with us always. Jesus tells us: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst and ‘I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.

So, what’s in a name? A lot, when it is the name of our Lord Jesus, Immanuel, Savior of the Nations. We, like Mary and Joseph and Christians from every time and place, can believe and cling to the promise and forgiveness contained in the name Immanuel: God is with you and he saves you from all your sins.

And may the peace of God with passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Let us Pray: O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend on us we pray. Cast out sin and enter in. Be born in us today. O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel. Amen.