In America, we name our children because we like the sound of a name, or we name them after a family member to carry the name on through generations. However, in biblical times, names were given for specific reasons. Most often, they were given because they were family names. I remember naming my boys. I had not chosen a name for either of them until after I saw them. It took about 24 hours after their birth for my husband and I to agree on names. Yet, when the angel came to Joseph in Matthew 1:21 to tell him that Mary would have a baby, the angel also told Joseph what the name would be. “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”
The first time Jesus’ name was revealed was to Mary. In Luke 1:31, Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, and the angel told her His name was to be Jesus. Neither Mary nor Joseph had the opportunity to name Jesus; He was from the beginning, and His becoming a man was always God’s plan of redemption for the human race. The word Jesus means “The Lord Saves” or “Salvation.” His name stated His mission. The last part of Matthew 1:21 is “for He will save His people from their sins.”
When God told Mary and Joseph what the baby’s name would be, He was revealing to them why He was being sent to earth. This must have been exciting and confusing. They knew a Messiah was to come; it was foretold in the Old Testament that a Redeemer would be sent. He would be Immanuel. This word means God with us. The Savior of the world would come as a baby and make it possible for us to be in sweet communion with God. He would pay the price for our sins.
Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
The baby in the manger had a mission. It was planned from before time because an all-knowing God knew that Adam and Eve would sin. He knew a sacrifice would need to be made to reconcile us back to the Father. Jesus, God in the flesh, the Messiah, would be sent to pay the price for our sins to reconcile us back to the Father. This is why His name is so precious to us. It reveals who He is and what His mission is.
Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
In Philippians 2:9-11, Jesus’ name is above every other name. It was given to Him by His Father, and at His name, every knee from the beginning of creation to the end of time will bow before Him. Every person will also confess verbally that He is Lord. He came as a servant to die for our sins. Now, He sits on the throne of glory and has dominion over everything.
Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
In Hebrews 1:4, His name is above the angels, Jesus is the Son by inheritance, and His name is excellent! Because He is the Son, Ephesians 1:21 teaches us that He is exalted far above all powers and every name that is in this world and the world that is to come.
Hebrews 1:4 “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
Ephesians 1:21 “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:”
Jesus is everything that is good and perfect. He is also called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. No one will ever rival Him. No kings, princes, good humanitarians, no other gods can be all that Jesus is. He is above all, yet He lowered Himself to become a man. His name encompasses everything we could ever need or want. Jesus, the one I trust with my eternal soul, the one who bore my sins, who rose again to prove He has power over life and death. That’s my Jesus, above all and for all who will believe.
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
