We have been looking at the different names of Jesus and what they tell us about him. We have looked at the names that declare his identity and the names that declare his character. Today let’s explore the thought that Love came down at Christmas for a purpose.
Immanuel
“God with us.” In Matthew 1:23, Matthew tells us that Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled. Christ has been born and through him, God’s presence is here with us.
The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” – which means, “God with us.”
Matthew 1:23
There is a Christmas hymn, written by the poet Christina Rossetti, which begins:
Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, Love divine…
Love did come down at Christmas. He came down to dwell among us, to be Immanuel – to be with us in order to fulfill a purpose greater than we could ever imagine.
Bread of Life
Our empty, hungry stomachs can fill up on bread and be satisfied, at least for a little while. However, eventually our stomachs are empty once more.
We also have souls that are empty and hungry, and they will be satisfied in only one way.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35
Love came down from heaven to be our Bread of Life. He came for the purpose of feeding our hungry, starving souls not just for a moment, but forever.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:38-40
I love how he also says “that I shall lose none of all that he has given me.” Jesus isn’t just feeding us. He is clinging to us and he is not willing to let go.
Lamb of God
The next day John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29
Jesus came to be the the sacrificial Lamb. The Lamb of God, who takes away our sin. The sin that separates us from God.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
Isaiah 53:5-7
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
When we accept Jesus as the Son of God, we do not have to die and remain separated from God for all eternity. We do not have to continually offer up sacrifices for our sins, because Jesus did that for us. He willingly suffered the pain and the humiliation of being hung on a cross as a common criminal, so that you could be forgiven and live with Him forever.
… Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:30
Jesus’ purpose here on earth was complete.
There are so many more names of Jesus, but I wanted to focus on just a few. Maybe this series has given you the urge to explore some of the other names of Jesus and learn even more about this amazing Gift we have been given.
Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, Love divine…
Click on the links below to find the other posts in this series:
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