Christmas Message from Salvation Army's General

The Salvation Army International has issued the General’s Christmas message from General John Larsson on first day of December, marking the coming of the great Christian festival.

This year, General John Larsson gives his deep meditation on the name that God chose for His son. His message reminds Christians once again the meaning of the birth of the Holy son on the mortal world and the love of His salvation.

General Larsson quoted the Book of Matthew, "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel - which means, ‘God with us’"

"Immanuel, ‘God with us’ - a name rich in meaning. Perhaps God lingered long over that possibility. God knew the name he chose would become the best known name in all of human history. It had to be just right," the message says.

Highlighted the name Jesus, General Larsson explained that God chose a name that spoke of Jesus’ mission on the world. From Matthew 1: 21: ‘The Lord saves!’ He surely said to the angel, "When you tell Joseph about the baby boy that Mary will give birth to, say to him: ‘You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’"

General Larsson praises God for His amazing plan of salvation to sinful man through His Son Jesus Christ.

"And everything came to pass just as God had foreseen. When Jesus walked on earth, his name became deeply precious to his followers. After his death and resurrection, the fame of his name began to spread throughout the world. The story was told and retold of how God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes him shall not perish but have eternal life. And as countless men and women through the centuries were saved from their sins and found new life in Jesus it seemed that the very name of Jesus was filled with spiritual power!"

General Larsson finally added that even Joseph and Mary would have been amazed to know that the name God had given to their child was to become "the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2: 9-11). But they loved the beautiful name which God had chosen.