And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
In telling the story of Jesus’ birth, Matthew makes a big point of what his name should be. The angel tells Joseph to name him Jesus. Matthew says that this fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah that the child should be named Immanuel, and the chapter ends with, “And he called his name Jesus.”
Matthew Henry said it well in his commentary on Isaiah, “The Messiah shall be introduced on a glorious errand, wrapped up in his glorious name: They shall call his name Immanuel—God with us, God in our nature, God at peace with us, in covenant with us. This was fulfilled in their calling him Jesus—God is salvation, for, if he had not been Immanuel—God with us, he could not have been Jesus—our Salvation.”
It’s important to get the weight of this name, God is Salvation. He does not give us some thing to be held in the hand or received as anything apart from very God. Again Isaiah said, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” There is no salvation outside Christ, not a gift given other than his own being. When he gives us the gift of faith, he gives himself. When he gives us grace, he gives himself. When he gives us work, or salvation, or holiness, or light, or life, he gives himself and we grow into him who is our head.
So much more needs to be said about this.
