750 years before His birth the prophet Isaiah said, "... Unto us a child is born and unto us a Son is given and the government will be upon His shoulders. He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.
And you will call His name Jesus . . . because He will save His people from their sins !!!"
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The right to determine a child’s name belongs to the parents. God, the Father, decided to give the name Jesus to His only Son. It was indeed a suitable name.
It is no accident that this is the name conferred upon the Messiah. Though many others carried that name in His day, God did not hesitate to use it. The name Jesus would encompass all that Jehovah is, and all that He planned to accomplish in the life of mankind. The angel was told that the purpose for calling the child, Jesus was because He would "save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
The name Jesus is short, easy to pronounce, and sweet in sound. Since it speaks of salvation, this name brings to God’s mind those He has saved. Therefore, each time He hears or uses the name it requires that He remember us and how He has saved us. Without a people saved He could not rightfully carry such a name. It is the only saving name given to man. (Acts 4:12)
Though this name was bestowed upon Him before birth, it did not reach its full potential and purpose until His death and resurrection. He was to do more than teach us of God, He was God. He must do more than teach us the way of salvation, He became our salvation, bearing the name Jesus.
Throughout the Old Testament God used names descriptive of His various attributes. The Jehovistic titles were among these.
He was Jehovah-Jirah because he was a provider,
Jehovah-Ropheka because He healed,
Jehovah-Shalom who brought peace,
Jehovah-Mekaddishkem as the sanctifier of His people,
Jehovah-Zebaoth (hosts) and
Jehovah-Nissi (banner) because he led in battle,
Jehovah-Zidkenu as the righteous God,
Jehovah-Shammah because He is ever present, and
Jehovah-Elyon because He was the was the Most High.
These and other Jehovistic titles exemplify the various traits of Jehovah in saving His people.
Through the Bible, Jesus Christ is called the Just One, the Holy One, the Holy and the Just, the Holy and Righteous One, the Holy One of God, the Faithful and True Witness, the King of Israel, the King of the Jews, the King of saints, the King eternal, immortal, invisible. He is called the Righteous Judge, the Judge of all the earth, the Desire of Nations, and Ensign of the People.
He is called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. He is Teacher, Master, Rabboni, Governor, Law-giver, Redeemer, Messiah, Savior and Immanuel. He is the Deliverer, Mediator, Intercessor, a Prince and a Savior, and Mighty to Save.
Many of His names depict His position in this universe and show Him to be exalted above creation. As the Daystar He is the forerunner to all that begins in creation. When He is called the Sword, Shield, and Buckler, He is shown to be the greatest in battle. When He is spoken of as the Most High, He rises above every king and potentate, throne and dominion that is or has been. As the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world, He has prevailed to open the seals to the title deed of this earth. As the Bridegroom He carries away the most glorious bride, taken from the clutches of His rival who was the previous suitor of this bride. As the Head of the Corner, Head of the Church, Head of every man, the True Light that lighteth every man which comes into the world, He takes the highest place of authority possible. As our great High Priest, our Passover, the Firstfuits of them that slept, the First Begotten from the dead, and the Resurrection and the Life,
Christ has brought to us the hope of eternal life, an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, which does not fade away and which is reserved in heaven for us. But the name of Jesus Christ includes all of these and more. Jesus is a name which encompasses the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last. Jesus is the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
God’s greatest contribution to man has been a name greater than prophets and kings, higher than men or angels. Everything we do or say can be done in that name above all others. In a sense we "gave" Him that name for it involves salvation, and we are the ones He saved. When He hears the name Jesus, He must be reminded of those who have been purchased through His great sacrifice. There should be in our hearts continual thanksgiving and appreciation for the privilege to use such a lovely name. He has allowed us to apply that name to our lives in baptism, use it when praying for the sick, and lift it up in worship and praise to God!
The name Jehovah is a name which describes God as the self-existent One. It reveals His all-sufficiency and His presence among His people. It is the name by which he has entered into the salvation scheme and purposed to restore the marred estate which Adam lost.
The term salvation with all the various words associated with it brings us our greatest hope. If such terminology were not in our vocabulary, we would be of all creation most in despair.
When we add that great name Jehovah to the concept of salvation, we obtain the name of Jesus, a name which has brought every blessing possible to our sin-torn hearts. Though the world spurns the name of Jesus Christ, and to the angels it holds no redemptive reality, yet to the church of Jesus Christ, the blood-bought bride of Christ, it is the most meaningful and powerful name in existence.
The name of Jesus means everything to us and to Him as well. This is because of all the name does for us. It is the means of our salvation; it brings His presence; it supplies our needs. Thinking upon that name brings revelations of His glory and goodness and transforms into His image!
(from WORLD AFLAME)
