Why call him Jesus?

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. William Shakespeare 

Question: Why call him Jesus?

Answer: Names have a strange way of coming back to haunt many. Imagine a milquetoast with the personality of a limp spaghetti noodle answering to the name of Tiger. Or a girl named Herbert.  Both are possible, but not likely. Why? Well, because names are supposed to signify something or someone. Neither really do that. Not in a meaningful sense, at least. 

Not so with Jesus. The very name itself is packed with dynamic nuances and firm, solid meaning. In Hebrew, it means: “God saves.” So, when Gabriel gave the Son of God the name Jesus it was meant to express both Christ’s identity and His mission. His identity as the God, since only God can forgive sins and thereby save us; and, therefore, His mission to save us as well. Thus, in Jesus, God recapitulates all the history of salvation on behalf of men. That is the true meaning of the verse which states that in Him we are complete (Cf. Colossians 2:9-10), and at the name of Jesus every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10,11). Therefore, rightfully the Apostle on another occasion reminds us that “we are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10).”

So sacred was the name Jesus (Jehovah) the Savior God that it was invoked only once in the year by the high priest in atonement for the sins of Israel, after he had sprinkled the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies with the sacrificial blood. It was and is, therefore, a holy name.

His name is also a sufficient name. By that we understand that it declares the purpose and power of God, His endless love and all empowering grace. It is, as such, a name that none should take lightly or fleetingly. It should give us pause and appreciation for the mighty work Christ has done for us. Truly, we can say with the Psalmist, therefore: “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him (Psalm 2:12).”

JimR__/