What child is this? Who is this Jesus that we celebrate every December? Why is his birth such a big deal? This is a question that is continually being asked and answered throughout the New Testament. In the first chapter of Matthew we are told he is Jesus, conceived from the Holy Spirit, who will save his people from their sins. Matthew 2 tells us he is the ruler coming out of Bethlehem who will shepherd Israel. Luke 1 says his name is Jesus, he will be called the Son of the Most High, he will be king on David's throne, and will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there will be no end, and he will be called holy- the Son of God. The angel in Luke 2 tells us he is a Savior, Christ the Lord. Christ the Lord. Christ the Lord. In the New Testament the word lord is translated from the greek word kyrios meaning "the possessor and disposer of a thing; the master." But this translation is not always accurate. Many times the New Testament author is quoting the Hebrew scriptures and if the word is written in all caps in the Old Testament - LORD- it is an entirely different word and has a different meaning. It is actually the name of the LORD revealed to Moses." I am who I am". Yaweh. Jehovah. YHVH. Let me show you an example. If we move from Matthew 2 into Matthew 3:3 John the Baptist is described as the one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord;'. If we read a little further we can see that this "Lord" John was preparing the way for was actually Jesus. In order to determine which word is actually meant here we cross-reference this scripture and go to Isaiah 40:3 "A voice cries; In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;". LORD is used here which is translated to YHVH. In Philippians 2:9 Paul says that God has highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. I have always heard this scripture used to say that Jesus is the name above every name, but I'm not convinced that this was what Paul was trying to convey. There is one name that is so sacred to the Jewish people that it was/is not spoken or written, and in it's place lord or adonai was/is used. Continuing in Philippians 2:10&11 Paul says this name was given to Jesus "so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." If we cross reference Philippians 2:10&11 with Isaiah 45:23 we see 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess'. The speaker here is the LORD. Therefore Paul, like John, is equating the LORD with Jesus. One more example. Some transcripts of Jude 5 insert the Lord as the one who delivered his people out of Egypt, but a footnote reveals that early manuscripts actually say Jesus. The ESV actually reads this way Jude 1:5 "Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt." So what child is this? This child is the one who saw the affliction of his people, and heard their cry and came down to deliver them with his mighty hand and outstretched arm from Egypt(Exodus 3:7-8) The baby in the manger is the LORD himself who has put on flesh because he heard the cry of all people. He is the Savior sent to save us from our sin. A process that was completed when he gave his life for the entire world on the cross. Also, this LORD Jesus will appear again to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28). "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"
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