Advent Reading for December 17, 2023 | “The Significance of Names” from Luke 2:21-24

²² And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

Luke 2:21-24

“The Significance of Names”
by Burt Schmitz

Luke brings us from the rejoicing of the angels and shepherds to what seems to be a mundane event.  A couple of things happen on the eighth day after His birth that are significant.  First, He is circumcised.  He receives the sign of the covenant as a descendent of Abraham (Genesis 17:7-12).  The baby is now identified as a member of the household of faith.  Second, the baby is given His name, Jesus.  This is the name that the angel Gabriel told Mary to give her child (Luke 1:31).  Jesus, “the Lord is salvation”, is His name.  Matthew 1:21 tells us “For He will save His people from their sins.”  

Names are significant.  When we lived in Togo, we learned that the names that were given to children at their birth could be used to give the child identity as well as to indicate a significant event.  My friend Lamoutidja’s name signified that he was born on a Thursday.  His name literally means “Thursday’s man”.  Lamoutidja had a lot of brothers.  Another friend was the first born of his mother and was given the name Nanlieb, “Everyone envies me”.  Having a son was very important and especially as a first born. 

The name Jesus, “the Lord is salvation”, has great significance for us.  It is Jesus, that even from His birth, is identified as the Savior of the world.  Luke 2:11, the angels declare, “there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Christ, Messiah, Anointed One, all indicating that Jesus was the Son of God, born to accomplish the task of providing salvation.   

Luke 2:29-32 identifies Jesus not only as the Savior of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles, the whole wide world.  We see in the names and titles given to Jesus around His birth, circumcision, and purification in the temple that Jesus is the baby born to die.  “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12).  

What will you do with Jesus?

Reflection Questions:

1. Reflect on Acts 4:12. Since Jesus is the only way of salvation, how does that impact our desire to share the gospel – good news of great joy – with others?
2. Today’s devotion closed with a question: what will you do with Jesus? Belief in Him is supposed to impact one’s whole life. How does this question challenge the way our daily lives reflect (or do not reflect) Him?

"Worthy is the Lion, the Slain Lamb Who Lives" from Revelation 5 (The KING is Coming) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

📖 Revelation 5:1–14In this episode of The King is Coming, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison continue into the throne room of heaven—and what unfolds in Revelation 5 is one of the most powerful and familiar scenes in all of Scripture. A scroll appears in the right hand of the One seated on the throne, sealed with seven seals. A mighty angel asks a question that echoes through heaven and earth: Who is worthy to open the scroll?At first, no one is found—and John weeps. But then everything changes. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered… and when John turns, he sees not a lion, but a Lamb standing as though slain—and alive.Together, Keith and Jamie discuss:✔️ The significance of the sealed scroll and why only the rightful heir can open it✔️ The difference between ability and worthiness—and why no one but Jesus qualifies✔️ Why John hears “Lion” but sees a slain Lamb—and what that reveals about Christ✔️ How Jesus conquers not by force, but through His death and resurrection✔️ The connection to the Passover Lamb and the redemption of God’s people✔️ The overwhelming worship of heaven declaring Jesus alone is worthyThis chapter is the turning point: the Lamb who was slain is alive—and He alone is worthy to carry out God’s plan.“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12)🔗 If you would like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.

1. "Worthy is the Lion, the Slain Lamb Who Lives" from Revelation 5 (The KING is Coming) 36:02
2. "Before the Throne of God Above" from Revelation 4 (The KING is Coming) 34:36
3. " Lukewarm Yet Not Without Hope: Jesus’s Letter to the Church at Laodicea" (The KING is Coming) 35:45
4. "Kept Through the Trial: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Philadelphia" (The KING is Coming) 35:40
5. Christ Has Come: The Promised King & His Gift of Love" (Advent 2025) 22:22