She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins…and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us. Matthew 1:21, 23

Joseph was informed of two names for the Child his fiancée was carrying. The first was Jesus, meaning “Jehovah is Salvation.” Why? Because Jesus came to save His people from their sins. How easily we forget that that is why Jesus came—to save us from our sins.

The second name was Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” This is a miracle beyond any other, that the infinite Creator would come in the form of a created being. He actually came like one of us (except without sin), so that He could make us like Him (except without divinity).

How important are these two names and descriptions of Jesus? They are both equally essential. He came to be with us so that He could save us from our sins.

People often pray, “Thank you for being there for me when I needed you.” What greater need does anyone have than to be saved from sin? So the next time you thank the Lord for being there for you, remember the most important time He was ever there for you—on the cross, to save you from your sins.