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Jun 02, 2023 18:30pm

The Name You’ve Been Waiting For

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The anticipation was high.

We anxiously awaited news, constantly checking for updates. Students would ask every week, “Have you heard yet? Have they said the name yet?”

Every year, SOAR Conference was the highlight of the summer. For awhile, the conference would host this BIG name band that the students would love. We had seen Lincoln Bruster, Lecrae and now, we were waiting for the big name to drop.

Who would be coming?

We knew they would be awesome. We knew they would put on a great show. But we just didn’t know the name yet.

And then, the announcement came, and the kids went crazy! To put a name with the band was icing on the cake! For King and Country was coming that summer! The anticipation, the waiting, all of it had been worth it just to hear that name!

And they did not disappoint!

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Luke 1:31-33

There it was.

The name.

The one they had waited for.

The Christ.

The Messiah.

Isaiah 7:14 had predicted the coming Messiah. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Immanuel. God with us.

He finally had a name.

Jesus.

“Jehovah is Salvation”

His very name described what He was sent to do for the people of the world.

Salvation.

If you were living during the time all of this was happening, you might be like many of the Jews and believe it meant salvation from the Romans. But, God’s plans are always bigger.

Jesus came to save their souls. His salvation is eternal, not temporal.

Jesus.

The name above all names.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Isaiah 9:6-7

This is the name you’ve been waiting for. He’s the One you’ve been searching for. How long have you hurt? How long have you longed for redemption? How desperate have you been for unconditional love? One that will leave the past behind you and say “You are mine, forever!”

Jesus offers you that love.

I know I’m not worthy of it. None of us are. But truthfully, I’ve wronged Him so many times. On such a deep level. And yet, he relentlessly pursues us. He says believe in me, confess your sin to me, trust me to take away your guilt and shame, for you are redeemed!

Will you do that today?

The One you’ve been searching for is here.

His name is JESUS.