Matthew 1:18-25 - Jesus is born

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Today we're looking at Matthew 1:18-25.

The child's name is important enough for the angel to specify it to Joseph. Jesus comes from Latin 'IESUS' (yesoos) which in turn is from the Greek 'Ἰησοῦς' (eeyesoos) from the Aramaic Yeshua or Yahshua (ye-sh-ooa) or Hebrew Yahoshua (ya-hosh-ooa). The 'Yah' part is a shortened form of Yahweh or Jehovah, the ending means 'saves', so 'Yahweh saves'. An appropriate name indeed!

And in order to save us, he had to begin by coming to live among us (Immanu-El, 'El with us') where El is the short form of Elohim which is actually a plural form and means 'Mighty Ones'. The singular Eloh 'Mighty One' is cognate with the Arabic term 'Allah'.

The huge significance of this name and title really strike me in this passage. But these verses also tell us that despite being the Almighty in person, Jesus was willing to be born into an ordinary (and quite humble) human family. Immanuel.

Right here in his name we see that the Almighty has come in human form to be among us and that his purpose is to save us.

What does this passage say to you? What stands out as especially important or significant?

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