“What’s in a name?” Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet made this question famous. These two teenagers fall in love before learning that they bear the names of rival families. Romeo and Juliet would sooner deny their own family name than abandon their love for one another.
In other settings, the family name would be more important. Several years ago, business deals were conducted and agreed upon by a gentleman’s word and a handshake. As a man was faithful in keeping his promises and paying his creditors, he furthered his credibility and testimony of integrity in the community. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be more desired than great riches.”
Yes, names are important, particularly in Scripture. Nowhere is this more significant than in Matthew 1:21, where we read words attributed to an angelic messenger speaking to Joseph in regard to Mary: “And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” The name Jesus means “Jehovah our Savior.” It is the New Testament equivalent of the Hebrew name Joshua, Yeshua, or Hoshea. While others wore these names in honor to God, Jesus bore His name as an expression of the Savior-God that the New Testament says He was.
It is the name by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 says, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”
It is the name that sets the tone for everything a Christian does. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col. 3:17).
It is the name at which every knee shall bow. The apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).
It is quite clear, however, that many people have ignored or dismissed altogether the tremendous significance of Jesus’ name. In the days of His childhood, Jesus’ neighbors knew Him as nothing more than the son of Joseph the carpenter. In our generation, many of our neighbors know Jesus only as an expression of anger, alar, or profanity. Many more have only a casual understanding of the scores of additional names given to Him in the Bible.
Throughout this Christmas season, I'll be blogging about the beautiful name of Jesus. Specifically, I want to consider the four designations that appear in Isaiah's prophecy nearly 700 years before Jesus' birth:
Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
and the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 9:6 -
As we consider these divine designations over the next few weeks, keep in mind that while others use aliases to veil their true identity, the Scriptures use many names for the Son of God in order to display His glory to the world He came to save!
Next week we'll look at this verse in more depth. In the meantime, why not commit it to memory?