Welcome to “Praying the Names of Jesus.” For the next five weeks, Ann Spangler will guide you in learning the significance of the Bible’s many names for Jesus. You’ll learn one name per week, and be invited to prayer and reflection about that name. Feel free to scroll down to this first entry each day if you want to refresh your memory on the name of the week.
The Name: “Child” (Yeled, Pais)
A child was always at the heart of the biblical covenant. Already in the garden of Eden God promised that Eve’s offspring would crush the head of the serpent, who beguiled her. Later God made a covenant with Abraham, promising that Sarah would bear him a child who would be the first of countless descendents. Then Isaiah spoke of a child who would be born of a virgin and be given the name “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The New Testament tells of the fulfillment of that promise, and Jesus presents children as the model for his followers to emulate. The only way to enter the kingdom is with the humility and trust of little children.
Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:4-7)
Adapted from “Praying the Names of Jesus” by Ann Spangler, with permission.
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