Matthew 1:21 “you are to give him the name Jesus”
Joseph is told in the nativity story to name Mary’s son Jesus “because he will save his people from their sins.” A look at the origin of the name Jesus gives us an even larger idea to consider.
Jesus is the Latin form of the Greek which is a transliteration of the Hebrew Jeshua which means “Jehovah is salvation.” What a huge concept.
“Jehovah is salvation.” More than any one individual performing an individual action. More than a personal or communal belief system. More than the performance of certain rituals proclaiming what we believe.
“God is salvation.”God is the essence of all we need in order to experience our spirits made whole, the passageways to communication cleared and open. To be with God becomes the goal, the necessity. To be with God makes us who we were intended to be.
Ann Glover O'Dell 
It came to me the other day that my “religion” can be articulated simply as “I love God,” which for me includes compassion, lovingkindness, thoughtfulness, and being still and listening.
I appreciate your thoughtful essays. Love you, Lyn
Thank you, Lyn. I agree wholeheartedly!.