Day 36 of 49
The Bible is the redemptive story of God’s love. It begins and ends in a garden with God’s creation in perfect fellowship with him. And in the middle, we find humanity’s struggle to regain the lost relationship with God, only to discover that the only way back to God is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
God gave promises concerning the coming of Jesus Christ. But when he came, some did not recognize him. Some did and rejoiced at his coming. And some saw all the signs and decided that this Messiah did not match what they wanted him to be, so they denied him and pushed to have him crucified.
But what were some of the names given to Christ before he was born?
The seed of woman-
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Ge 3:15.
A prophet like Moses-
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
Dt 18:15.
The Son of God-
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
Ps 2:7.
The Chief Cornerstone
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Ps 118:22.
Immanuel: God With Us-
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Is 7:14.
The Root of Jesse
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
Is 11:1–3.
A Man of Sorrows
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Is 53:2–3.
A Righteous Branch
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
Jer 23:5.
The Son of Man
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Dan 7:13–14.
The King of Israel
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zec 9:9.
The Sun of Righteousness with healing in its wings
But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
Mal 4:2.
Son of David
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Mt 1:1.
King of the Jews
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Mt 2:2.
Which of these names means more to you today?
For me, it depends on who I need him to be? Sometimes I need the healing in his wings. Sometimes I need to just acknowledge him as king.
I am ever so grateful that he is Immanuel, God with us…always.
Lord, thank you for your promise of redemption that flows through your word. Thank you that you are always with me. Thank you for always being what I need, each and every moment of the day. Help me to see you more clearly.
TRICIA LATHROP 