When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24,25 ESV)
Names
Joseph was among the first to proclaim that the Christ child saves. When Joseph named Him Jesus, Joseph was not choosing an old traditional family name. He was not choosing a name based on how it rolled off his tongue. He was not choosing a name that he had always particularly liked.
Instead, in naming that baby, “Jesus,” Joseph was actually proclaiming Him Lord.
He was calling on the Christ child to save Him.
He was announcing to Bethlehem, Judea, the Middle East, and the World that the Messiah had arrived, and that HIS name was above every name!
When we say His name in prayer, we are doing the same thing.
When we address Him aloud, we are doing the same thing.
When we sing His name in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, we are doing the same thing.
Jesus is not simply a name. It is THE name that saves us.