“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
The foretelling of Jesus’ birth to Mary holds deep theological significance within our faith. The name ‘Jesus,’ originating from the Hebrew “Yeshua” or “Yehoshua,” captures a message within its very essence. Its meaning, “Yahweh/Jehovah saves” or “God is salvation,” forms the core foundation of the divine mission entrusted to Messiah.
The Old Testament prophesied the coming of a Messiah—a chosen one who would bring salvation and redemption to God’s people. This anticipation of a messiah within the Jewish faith, carries with it the hopes and expectations of deliverance from oppression and the restoration of divine favour. Within the Christian faith, the annunciation of Jesus’s birth to Mary, delivered by the angel Gabriel, marks the point in history when the divine plan for humanity’s redemption begins to unfold. Mary, a young woman of deep faith and humility, receives this extraordinary news with awe and reverence. Her role as the mother of Jesus helps us have a better understanding of the divine intervention and the miraculous nature of our Lord’s birth. Continue reading