Isaiah 7:10–16 / Matthew 1:18–2

I will assume that most of us here have gone through the process of choosing a name for a newborn baby. When we do it, we want the best name — a meaningful name — because names are essential. A name is not just how someone will be called, but very often is what we hope that person will become. Names carry identity. Names carry purpose. Names carry expectations. And that is exactly what we find in today’s reading from the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah’s prophecy is about names and signs… but even more deeply, it is about love that refuses to abandon God’s people.

In Isaiah’s time, King Ahaz ruled Judah while the nation was under threat of invasion by a mighty enemy alliance. Fear was everywhere. People were anxious. Leadership was shaken. The future was uncertain.

God speaks to King Ahaz and tells him: “Ask for a sign to strengthen your faith.” But Ahaz, hiding behind false humility, refuses. He says he doesn’t want to “test the Lord.” But sometimes what looks like spiritual humility is actually fear and lack of trust. Yet here is the miracle of love: Even when Ahaz refuses God’s invitation, God refuses to withdraw His love. Isaiah responds to the king: “The Lord Himself will give you a sign…”

God’s love does not wait for perfect faith. God’s love steps in anyway. And the sign God is giving to the king is the birth of a child: “The young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.” This child is not just any child. He is a symbol of God’s faithfulness, a reminder to Jerusalem that God is still present, even in adversity, and even in insecurity.

Biblical names are never random. They are always loaded with meaning. Abraham means “Father of many nations” — and his life fulfilled that meaning. Eve means “Mother of all living” — and she truly was.

A name in the Bible is a theological statement. It tells us who someone is and what God intends through them. In Isaiah’s prophecy, God Himself names the child. And He names him Immanuel — God with us. Not God above us. Not God distant from us. But God with us.

This name is a declaration of love. It is God saying: “I will not abandon you. I will not leave you alone. I will be present even in your suffering.”

Centuries later, the Gospel of Matthew reminds us that Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew says: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now notice this: Isaiah says His name is Emmanuel. Matthew says His name is Jesus. These are not contradictory names; they are complementary names. Jesus means: God saves. Emmanuel means: God is with us. One describes His mission. The other describes His faithful presence.

When God came in Jesus, He did not love us from a distance, He loved us by coming near. God stepped down into our world. He entered our time, our history. He walked our streets. He shared our pain. He breathed the same air we breathe.

In Matthew chapter 11, while John the Baptist was in prison, he sends his disciples to ask Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus answers them: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” Those were not just miracles. They were signs — signs that Emmanuel had come. They showed that God was not only with His people — He was restoring His people.

Isaiah 61 describes what Jesus was doing and asking those sent by John to share with him: Emmanuel came to bring good news to the poor… to bind up the brokenhearted…to proclaim freedom for captives…to comfort those who mourn… to replace ashes with beauty… despair with praise…These are signs of God’s Kingdom…of God’s present. These are signs of God’s love in action and Emmanuel present.

When Jesus healed the sick, When He forgave sinners, When He restored the broken,
When He welcomed the outcast…People were seeing Emmanuel — God walking with His people.

In a few more days, we will celebrate Christmas. The birth of Jesus — the sign given by God. The child named by God. The Savior sent by God and this celebration is a reminder of who we are. We are Christians. And that name means: Those who belong to Christ. Those who follow Christ. Those who carry Christ’ name into the world.

If Jesus is God’s sign to humanity, then we are Christ’s sign to the world. We are spiritual road signs. When people see us, they should see a direction — pointing not to ourselves, not to our church, but to Christ. Sadly sometimes, we become careless signs. And instead of pointing people toward Christ, we confuse them… or even push them away.

When I think of names, I always remember a story told by Bishop White from New York. He said that there was a soldier in Alexander the Great’s army. He was brave in battle, but he caused problems among his fellow soldiers by joking and disrupting discipline. Alexander summoned him and asked: “What is your name, soldier?” The young man answered: “Alexander, sir.” Alexander the Great paused and then said: “You have two choices: Either change the way you live… or change your name.”

Brothers and sisters, our name is Christians. It carries the name Christ, which the name above all names. Emmanuel means: God with us. Christian means — and I don’t believe I stretch Scripture here: Christ with us, in us, and through us. Besides our name, according to Colossians 3:14, God has clothed all Christians with love. Love is the uniform wear by Christians.  And when someone wears a uniform, they are expected to behave according to what that uniform represents.

This Advent season, as we remember Emmanuel — God with us — let us also remember who we are. We are bearers of His name. We are clothed with His love. We are living signs pointing to His Kingdom. So let us live in such a way that when people see us, they will not just see church members —they will see Immanuel… God still walking among His people. They will see his love still dwelling and acting among us.

May the name we bear bring glory to the Name we represent to the name that is above every name. Amen.