Yes! I’m starting Christmas a little early. I have a new devotion for you today all about how comforting the names of Jesus are. I think we find a lot of comfort in the things of Christmas because they are familiar and cherished, and I think we can find comfort in the names of Jesus in the same way.
Alright, let’s get to it!
Comfort at Christmas (from the Names of Jesus)
Julia Bettencourt
August 25, 2023
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… Philippians 2:10
I think we find a lot of comfort in the things of Christmas because they are familiar. We find comfort in things like aged and cherished ornaments, worn and weathered decorations that have been put up year after year, and even old family recipes that find their way to the Christmas table. These things comfort us because they are familiar, special, hold memories, and we love them.
There is something comforting about the names of Jesus too, especially at Christmas, because we hear them repeated in songs, written on Christmas cards, and spoken of in that verse in Isaiah that is always a favorite at Christmastime.
Isaiah 9:6 has some of those special names of our Lord in it.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
That verse always reminds me that Jesus was and is a Somebody. He had a purpose for being born. You know that by just looking at His names mentioned in that Bible verse.
Even Handle’s Messiah, that beautiful oratorio which many people love at Christmas is entitled with a name and full of other names of the Lord. It talks about the Lord God Omnipotent, Christ, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.
There are so many names of the Lord in the Bible, and you could probably study each of them and never really cover all they mean in a lifetime.
Those names are just so powerful. They are just so filled with meaning. They are just so describing of our great God. But the one thing that I love about all those names of our Lord, is that they are comforting.
I think about ornaments at Christmas that have the names of children or maybe even grandchildren on them. We look at those on our Christmas trees and they cause us to have special memories of those children, even though they may be all grown up by now. And in some cases, are no longer with us here on earth.
When we see those names written on a Christmas ornament, they draw us to them as people. It might remind us to call or text family members or friends just to say hello. Some of those people may have passed on and it brings back bitter memories but also loving memories.
Christmas ornaments with names can be powerful, but they can also be comforting to us. Sometimes it makes it seem that those people are close to us even if they are across the country, across the world, or even passed on from this life. Their names bring those people close to our hearts and we feel their presence.
Let’s look at some of those names of our Lord in relation to The Christmas Story. Let’s pretend they are written across some beautiful ornaments on our Christmas tree.
Messiah
Isaiah 9:6
I’ve already commented on this verse and it doesn’t mention the word Messiah, but the verse is all about the coming of our Messiah. It is a foretelling of the birth of Christ.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Our Messiah is the One that was promised back in the Old Testament. If you do a little studying on the word, Messiah, you will find that Christ and Messiah mean the same thing. Christ is the anointed.
I’m not sure about you, but it’s a comfort to me that the true King came to earth to save the world as promised.
Kept promises are so comforting!
Shepherd
Luke 2; John 10:14
I think shepherds are a lovely part of the Christmas story. You find those shepherds in the Christmas story in Luke 2. It’s so fitting. Angels spoke to the shepherds who were in the fields when Jesus was born, and Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
A shepherd’s job is herding, guarding, and tending to his sheep. He makes his sheep safe. And those are the things that Jesus does for us as His children.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:14
It is so comforting to know that the Savior of the world keeps and guards me as my Shepherd!
Jesus
Luke 1:31; Philippians 2:10
We see in the Christmas story in Luke 1, that the angel told Mary what the baby’s name would be ahead of time when Mary was first told that she would be expecting a baby.
There is so much in the name of Jesus. There is so much power. There is so much love. There is so much joy.
We have Salvation in the name of Jesus. We have answered prayer in the name of Jesus. We have forgiveness in the name of Jesus. And Jesus is the name to which everyone will bow someday.
There is just so much power and joy wrapped up in the name of Jesus that it is a comfort to me!
Prince of Peace
Luke 2:14; John 14:27
Another endearing part of the Christmas story is when the angels proclaimed peace on earth. It all goes back to that promise in Isaiah 9:6, that we started with earlier. We were promised that Prince of Peace.
Take a look at that verse in John 14. Jesus not only can give us peace but it’s not like anything the world can offer.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
It’s so comforting to me that in such a weary, busy, and scary world that Jesus is my Prince of Peace!
Redeemer
John 3:23; 1 John 2:2
The coming of Christ is what brought us redemption. You probably have John 3:23 memorized. God sent His only Son for us so that our sins could be forgiven. He came to redeem us.
To be our Redeemer and propitiation for our sin is the very reason why Christ came. That’s why God sent Him. That’s why we have Christmas.
Just to know that Jesus came to be my Redeemer and take away not only my sin, but the sin of the world is so comforting!
Final Thoughts
All of the names of Jesus represent comfort to me in some way. When we look at those names, they each describe aspects of the Lord that can bring us peace. Even those names that describe His might and power and that could even scare us a little, are precious. Just knowing that we have such a powerful God who is a righteous judge comforts me.
I don’t have to worry about the Lord having trouble knowing right from wrong. I don’t have to worry that He will remain faithful. I don’t have to worry that He will always be there and do the right thing.
Each name of Christ represents something about our Lord that we can connect to, that we can cherish.
I find it exciting and comforting that someday everyone will bow to the name of Jesus.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
Think for a minute how we use names in everyday life.
Names are what we say when greeting someone. It is what we call out when we are looking for someone. It is what we use when we pray for that person. Names are used for filing and organizational purposes. They are used to show ownership. They are used to show identity.
There are so many things that a name is used for in life.
So, with all of those of uses in mind, let’s use the names of God for those things. Let’s greet Him by His names in our prayers and in our praise. Let’s use His names to call on when we are seeking to find Him. Let’s use the names of God to bring us that comfort and peace that we need. Let’s use His names to remind us of our identity that we are His children.
The world uses the names of Jesus in such demeaning ways, but as Christians, we can take those names and wield them for good. We can grab hold of the power of those names. We can grab hold of the truth of those names. We can grab hold of the joy of those names.
There is so much comfort in the names of God, but also there is so much comfort in using those names for His glory.
So, how have you used the names of Jesus lately?
Copyright ©2023 Julia Bettencourt
I appreciate you stopping by the blog. If you want to comment on this devotional, feel free to do so over on my Julia Bettencourt Ramblings Facebook Page.
Have a lovely day,
Julia
All of my Christmas devotions I’ve written in the past are in my Merry Christmas Devotional Collection available on Amazon.
