What’s in a name?

When I was little, I thought Christ was Jesus’ last name. You know, Mary Christ, Joseph Christ, and their son Jesus Christ. Of course, I eventually came to understand that Jesus is the name His mama called Him (ok, yes, it was Joseph, the step-dad who named Him as instructed by the angel). Names like Christ or Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, Son of God, Son of Man were titles given to Him by others — all true and deserved and lived up to.  Still, His mama called Him Jesus, and that’s the name I like best.  Don’t get me wrong – I love that Jesus is my Deliverer, my Peace, my Messiah, my Savior.  He is all those things and so much more. But, when I use those names instead of His given name, He is elevated beyond me.  To call Him the Messiah is to upraise Him so far above me that I can’t even think of approaching Him.  To call Him Prince of Peace puts Him in a palace where I, a mere commoner, am forbidden to go.  Son of God? Nope, I’m not worthy for sure.

But I can call on a guy named Jesus.  Jesus was (along with being fully God) human. Maybe He had bad breath sometimes, maybe he chewed His fingernails. He had to cut His toenails and blow His nose. Jesus understands being poor.  He was born in a barn, I was raised in a trailer.  He understands being sad, angry, frustrated, confused. I feel all those things. He gets me because He was human.  I get Him because He was human.  Maybe that is why I love Christmas.  Christmas celebrates Jesus’ entry into this world in a way I understand. Through Jesus I have a friend who takes me by the hand and leads me into the palace and tells me I belong.  He saved my soul and leads me into understanding how. Because of Him I am worthy.  No small thing.  Yay Christmas!!