As the Christmas season comes around again, people can be seen peering into the manger to take a glimpse – sometimes furtive, sometimes meditative – of the little baby lying on the straw. What are they looking for? What do they expect to see? I ask this in all seriousness. I do not scorn their curiosity. I merely want to know what it is they search for as they look upon the child.

The Evangelist Matthew doesn't make much of the baby's appearance. He doesn't even tell his readers about the actual event of the birth. Instead, he informs us about Joseph's embarrassment and confusion at finding his betrothed already pregnant. He also recounts the reaction of the vicious and insecure Herod as he learned of the mission of the wise men who were searching for a new king. So we begin to wonder: “What's so important about this child? How do we learn of his significance?”

Matthew tells us of the baby's significance, and it has nothing to do with his appearance. We know he is important, we know his identity, and we know his meaning for us by the names that Matthew uses. In Matthew 1:18-2:6 we come upon four names that tell the story of Christmas. The names, more than the actual appearance of the baby, are signs of who he is and what he will do.

The child's name was not chosen by the parents. It was placed upon him by God himself. When the angel explained to Joseph that he was caught up in the most amazing event in the history of mankind, he also passed on the name that the child was to bear: “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” This little baby is named Salvation! Who in the world can live up to that name? Who in the world indeed!

Salvation is born in Bethlehem. But did anyone know that he was coming? You'd better believe it! He had another name before he had the name Jesus. Actually, it is more of a title than a proper name. Matthew mentions it as he introduces the narrative of the birth of Jesus. The narrative is about Jesus, The Christ. This baby was known long before he was ever born. He was promised to the people of Israel. He was anointed to be their new and final king. He was designated to restore them to an unbreakable relationship with their God. The Christ should not have been a surprise to anyone in Israel; the Scriptures were full of the promise of his coming. Nevertheless, this little baby with a long list of names and titles surprised most of them.

Matthew reminded his readers of the identity and mission of this little baby by means of another name: “they will call him Immanuel which means, 'God with us.'“ The baby is not only our promised salvation, not only our designated king, he is God himself come down to dwell with us and indwell us! This is more than we can understand, more than we can handle. All of these in one tiny child.

Herod learned something more about him when he ordered his priests and scribes to figure out where the child was going to be born. He found out that this ruler would also be a shepherd of the people. Imagine that – a ruler-shepherd, someone who would protect the people, nurture them, care for them, make them whole.

The baby's names tell the whole story of Christmas. The manger holds Promised Salvation who is also God-with-us and the Good Shepherd. What more could one look for?