“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.””
Matthew 1:21 NIV
http://bible.com/111/mat.1.21.niv
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.”
Luke 2:21 NIV
http://bible.com/111/luk.2.21.niv
“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”
Luke 1:30-31 NIV
http://bible.com/111/luk.1.30-31.niv
Jesus
It was an ordinary Jewish name, a common name among common people. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua. Joshua in Hebrew is pronounced “Yeshua.” Joshua means – Jehovah Salvation. Many a Jewish mom at the time named her son Joshua after their ancient hero. Joshua is the one who led their people into the promised land. Jesus, Joshua, Yeshua, at the time, not a very unique name. You would expect more extravagance for this Holy Child for He truly is the Only True God. But that is the name the Angel told them to give the Baby, so that is what Mary and Joseph did on the eighth day of His birth. It was the name prepared for Him before His birth. He was given an ordinary name because He was coming to His people as one of them. He came to identify with them. They were an oppressed and devastated people. They were held in bondage by a overpowering Roman Empire. He was given a name that signifies His identity with His people. He was named Jesus!
Even now when you say His name, there is an imaginary line drawn in the sand. Talk about God, OK. But proclaim the name Jesus, sides are drawn. You can feel the Angel Armies drawing their swords against their evil foes.
As I said yesterday, the naming of a child was a deeply spiritual moment for a family. In essence, the parents were speaking over this child a characteristic they felt this child would one day become. God already knew what this Baby would become. God knew He would save His people from their sins. So He prepared in advance for this Child to be named Jesus!.
As I sit here tonight only five days into this new year, I reflect on what His name means to me.
Jesus
Jesus Christ
Yeshua
Jehovah Salvation
Christ The Anointed One
Jesus the Nazarene
The prophet Isaiah gives us:
Immanuel – God with us
Prince of Peace
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
He is Lamb of God
I AM
The Great I AM
The list can go on and on, and each name gives me another personality trait that He Is!
Priscilla Shirer gives us His name from every book of the bible. She says and I quote:
“His desire, from the Old Testament to the New Testament is just to get us to know Him.”
In Genesis He is the Breath of Life
Exodus the Passover Lamb
Leviticus our High Priest
Numbers the Fire by Night
Deuteronomy Israel’s Guide
Joshua Salvation’s Choice
Judges Israel’s Guard
Ruth our Kinsman Redeemer
1 Samuel and 2 Samuel – He is our Trusted Prophet
1 Kings and 2 Kings – He is Sovereign
1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles—- Israel’s Choice
In Ezra the True and Faithful Scribe
Nehemiah the Rebuilder of Walls and Lives
Esther our Courage
Job the Timeless Redeemer
Psalms our Morning Song
Proverbs our Wisdom
Ecclesiastes the Time and the Season
Song of Solomon the Lover’s Dream
Isaiah the Prince of Peace
Jeremiah the Weeping Prophet
Lamentations the Cry for Israel
Ezekiel the Call from Sin
Daniel the Stranger in the Fire
Hosea the Forever Faithful
Joel the Spirit’s Power
Amos the Strong Arms that Carry
Obadiah the Lord, our Savior
Jonah the great Missionary
Micah the Promise of Peace
Nahum our Strength and our Shield
Habakkuk and Zephaniah- He Brings Revival
Haggai He Restores that which was Lost
Zechariah Our Fountain
Malachi the Son of Righteousness, Rising with Healing in His Hands
Matthew— Son of God
Mark |—-Your God and Your Messiah
Luke Son of Man
John- Good Shepherd
Acts the Son of God Rising with the Fire of Heaven in His Hands
Romans the Grace of God
1 Corinthians —| the Power of Love
2 Corinthians —|
Galatians Freedom from the Curse of Sin
Ephesians our Glorious Treasure
Philippians the Servant’s Heart
Colossians God and the Trinity
1 Thessalonians —| Our Calling King
2 Thessalonians —|
1 Timothy —|our Mediator and Our Faithful Pastor
2 Timothy |
Titus |
Philemon—–|
Hebrews the Everlasting Courage
James the one Who will Heal the Sick
1 Peter —-| our Faithful Shepherd
2 Peter —-|
1 John —–|the Lover Coming for His Bride
2 John |
3 John |
Jude ——-|
Revelation “When Time is no more, He was and is and will always be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, and the Son of Man, the Lamb of God and the Great I Am. He is the Alpha and Omega and God our Savior. He is Jesus Christ the Lord. I promise you, in Scripture, you will find He is everything that you need. Everything.”
“Search the Scriptures; dive into them not to get to know what He can do for you, but just to get to know Him. “
From Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
This is my challenge for us as we begin this new year:
Get out a notebook and as you read scripture this year, try finding a name for Jesus. Then ask yourself, “What characteristic does that name point out for me?” Do you think we can come up with 365 names?
Watch this video as Priscilla Shirer proclaims the attributes of God.
He Is My God!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL-uyjAYqXI
Whose your Daddy?
I loved that from our summer study that Priscilla listed out! And I love the challenge to find names for who Jesus is to me. This stirs up my favorite for Him is I AM. Because He just IS. He is all of it. Anything I need Him to be, HE IS.
Yes that is one of my favorites also
“I Am that I Am”