Why did the angel tell Mary to name Him, "Jesus" (Luke 1:31)?  “Jesus” is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua (or we would say, Joshua).  It means, “Yahweh saves.”  Jesus’ very name calls attention to His work and mission. 

Just as Joshua of the Old Testament brought God’s people into the promise land, so too, Jesus of the New Testament can bring people into the heavenly promise land.  It is no wonder that the shepherds in the field were told, “…I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11, NASU)

The cause of great joy, of course, was that the Christ, (which means “anointed one”) was now among people – the one in whom all the promises to Abraham would be fulfilled.  One of those promises was that in him “all the nations of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 18:18).  Jesus was the anointed one by which “Yahweh saves.” 

How did He do it?  Jesus did it by dying to carry the punishment for our sins. Paul writes, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with…,” (Romans 6:3-7, NASU)

Certainly, this is good news.  Have you been united with Him in the likeness of His death?