WHAT’S IN A NAME? Matthew 1:21

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Matthew 1:21

Matthew 1:21 (AMP)   She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus (The Lord is salvation), for He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21 (AMPC)      She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God].

Matthew 1:21 (CJB) She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means ‘Adonai saves,’] because he will save his people from their sins.”

When the angel appeared to Joseph to assure him that Mary had not been unfaithful and explain that her baby was God’s Son, he instructed Joseph to name the baby “Jesus.” One must understand that in their culture most firstborn boys were named after their father which mean Jesus would have logically been named Joseph. Why the name Jesus? The translations of Matthew 1:21 above reveal the answer. He was named according to His God-given purpose to be the Savior of all who would put their trust in Him. Jesus (Yeshua or Joshua) means “Adonai saves.” Who is Adonai? Adonai is a word used by the Hebrews for God and is usually translated into English as Lord. It derives from a word that can mean “master” or “sovereign.” Therefore, the name Jesus means “the sovereign Lord God saves.” God did not have to send Jesus in the form of a baby to grow into the perfect God-Man and die on the cross to provide redemption from our sin. In His sovereign grace, He chose to do so out of His love for His people. The name Jesus should be precious on our lips. Even His name, when properly understood, proclaims the Good News that through Him salvation is made available to those who believe.  His name indicates a sovereign Lord who was willing, ready, and able to redeem His chosen ones from sin and death. May we be sure to reverence His name. May we never use it in vain, flippantly, or as a curse word. May we speak it tenderly in thanksgiving, and cry out in His name in times of trouble. May we remember that He is our Master and Sovereign who loves us with an everlasting love. As the Gaithers sing, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, There’s just something about that name . . .”