Read Luke 1:31-33. TEXT: "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus" (Luke 1:31).

In a few short brushstrokes, the angel tells Mary what God is about to do. She will conceive and bear a Son. She is to name Him Jesus. This is a very common name in Mary's time. It means "The Lord saves." Whenever you met someone named Jesus, their name was pointing you to the Lord who saves.

But for this Child the Name will mean so much more. The angel adds, "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." Since the Son of God Himself is becoming human for us, His Name Jesus is different from all the others. It points out that this is the Lord Himself; He has come to save us. This is literally the Lord who saves.

That's staggering by itself. But the angel isn't quite finished. God will give her Son the throne of His father David. David was Israel's greatest king in the Old Testament. He won many great victories for Israel over its enemies and, in so doing, established a strong and peaceful kingdom, secure from all its enemies.

God told David He would build him a house, raising up for him a descendant who would reign over an eternal kingdom forever. And now that famous promise is being kept.
Whereas earthly kings come and go, this King will not. Though He dies on the cross, within three days He will rise again and reign over His Kingdom forever. This Christmas He calls you and me to be subjects of that never-ending Kingdom-free and safe from all our enemies-Satan, sin, fear, death and the gates of hell.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for fulfilling Your promise to King David through his descendant Jesus Christ. I praise You that He rules in mercy, faithfulness and righteousness. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
 

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 74-76    Revelation 5

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