When the subject is “Jesus of Nazareth” many things may be written and said, but the key word is “savior.” Before his birth “the angel of the Lord” appeared to Joseph and said to him: “fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:20-21). There is his mission on this earth announced! The name “Jesus” in its shortest form means “savior!”
Yet, there is more to be learned about “Jesus of Nazareth!” He is the one born of a virgin. Though folks like to debate the subject, the prophet Isaiah said it: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14), and Matthew the apostle of Christ quoted him: “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:22-23). It should be noted as these two verses are read, that Isaiah used the Hebrew word “almáh” when referring to the “virgin” Mary” and may be translated into the English, damsel, maid, virgin. (Strong); while Matthew used the Greek “Parthenos” and may be translated into the English, maiden; by implication an unmarried daughter, virgin. Whatever the debate may be, whatever may be said about the Hebrew and the Greek words, the next word which must be addressed is the word “sign.” The Hebrew is “oth” and may be translated: as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, mark, and miracle. A virgin is the only woman that will go with the words “evidence,” and “miracle” (This is also true of the other words.) For it is so true that there is no evidence from God in a married woman having a child, nor is there any evidence in an unmarried woman having a child other than the evidence of fornication. Neither of which is the subject of Isaiah! The “virgin” conceiving and bearing a son is the “sign!” It is the proof that is in the name “Immanuel:” God is with us! Take away the “virgin” and there is no proof, there is no “sign,” there is no “Immanuel,” and there is “no God with us!”
When the two words are put together, “Immanuel” and “Jesus,” we have God with us in salvation. God is with us in the person of Jesus to save us! There is no question why John 3:16 is called “the golden text of the Bible,” as it reads: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Or as Paul wrote when writing of God: “who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). Yet, it was not just through the birth of the virgin Mary that salvation came; no, the glad tidings of salvation runs through the sinless life of Jesus, who was tempted in all points as we. As it is written in Hebrews: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:15 -16). The sinless one became our High Priest to whom we may go at any moment in time of need and find mercy, as mercy is part of our salvation. So, hear the words of Hebrews once more in view of the above: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). While on earth, he lived as the “brightness,” and “the express image” of God while being temped in all points as we, yet he without sin; in his death he “purged our sins;” thus, he made our salvation possible through his blood, then, he was seated as our “high priest at the right hand of the Majesty on High,” so we may come to him in time of need and find mercy.
This being part of what is in the word “gospel,” no one is surprised to read some of the last words Jesus said to his apostles as he prepared to depart from this earth: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Being true to their commission, Paul wrote: “… the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; …” (Col. 1:23).
Yet, there is more to learn about “Jesus,” so we shall continue to write in this series of articles.
— Frank R. Williams