An angel announced Messiah’s birth, 2,000 years ago, saying, "I bring
you good news of great joy for all the people". (Luke 2:10) Modern Christmas
celebrations, which supposedly commemorate this joyous occasion, have sadly diluted its
meaning. These festivities have become commercialised, inspiring plenty of superficial fun
and laughter but somehow missing the real joy God intended. Tragically the name Jesus
Christ is more often mentioned as an idle swear word than spoken with respect.
Our society is becoming increasingly secular, but Christians are not the only God-fearing people who acknowledge Messiah’s birth was a joyous occasion. Like us, Muslims also attach spiritual significance to the events surrounding the arrival of the Messiah. According to the Qur’an, the birth of Jesus, al Masihu-Isa, to a virgin mother was truly miraculous. God revealed to Maryam, through the angel Gabriel, that she would have a son whose birth would be a miraculous sign for all peoples.
These similarities between the Bible and the Qur’an open the way for discussion between people from different faiths. Muslims do not officially celebrate Christmas but if Jesus’ birth was a miraculous sign, can we not discuss what it means? Whenever God reveals something by means of a sign we should pay special attention to it. Scripture tells us this is exactly what Jesus’ mother did; "Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart." (Lk. 2:19)
Do you know how Jesus came to be given his name? The Bible and the Qur’an state that his name was revealed through the angel (Mt. 1:21; surah 3:45). Have you ever wondered why God chose the name ‘Jesus’? It can’t have been by chance or just a random act. God, who knows all things even before they happen, must have had a reason, a purpose. He chose a name that would perfectly reflect the Messiah’s character and accomplishments. As one Muslim writer observed, "The name is the real introduction of a man’s personality and the real representation of a man’s activities." (p. 4, ‘Names For Muslim Children’ by M.A. Siddiqui)
If we want to see how meaningful Jesus name is we only need to ask, "How did His actions match the meaning of His name?" Long before Jesus was born, before He did anything at all, a prophet foretold what the Messiah would do, "He will bring salvation to the ends of the earth". (Isaiah 49:6) Therefore, it is not too surprising to learn that the name ‘Jesus’ means exactly that: God’s salvation! This basic meaning is acknowledged by Muhammad I. A. Usman, a respected Mufti and author of many books. (p. 77, ‘Islamic Names’, revised edition)
The prophet Isaiah explains in greater detail what this salvation is all about. "On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations. He will swallow up death forever and …wipe away the tears from all faces …the Lord has spoken. In that day they will say, ‘Surely this is our God. We trusted in Him and He saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.’" (Isaiah 25:7-9) Many years later an angel would announce the birth of Jesus using similar words: "I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all peoples … a Saviour has been born".
If the Messiah’s mission was to save people, how did He accomplish it? Both the Bible and Qur’an describe the miracles of Jesus, how He healed people and saved their lives. Notice he didn’t just cure mild ailments, he healed people who were critically and terminally ill. (Matthew 11:5; surah 5.110) Jesus performed even more spectacular miracles. He raised people from the grave. They, too, were saved by God’s Messiah. But it did not stop there. Jesus also saved people whose lives had been devastated and ruined by sin. The angel Gabriel explained why God chose the name Jesus. "You are to give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
Luke 19 is a wonderful example of this. A notorious sinner named Zacchaeus was dramatically transformed by his encounter with Jesus. What a joyful day that was! The final words of this story show that the Messiah Himself was very aware of what His own name meant and what was God’s purpose for His life. "Today salvation has come to this house", Jesus said, "because this man too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
My prayer is that all of you may experience this saving power of the Messiah and the joy that comes from knowing Him.
Roland Clarke
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Articles by Roland Clarke
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