
Terry R. Baughman
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
“His Name shall Be” — JESUS
Names for the newborn are usually chosen with much deliberation. Some will consult lists of popular names, or names that have special meaning, or names of family members several generations removed. All of this for a special name to identify a newborn child. Any name would do but there is the feeling that a name should hold some greater significance.
Biblical names have meaning. Names chosen can identify some event that happened at their birth, or a feeling of emotion accompanying the birth, or some attribute of God in praise or worship because of the birth. Rachel died giving birth to a son that she named “Ben-Oni”, meaning, “Son of sorrow.” Daniel means “God is my Judge,” and Ishmael means “God will hear.” With this background of the Hebrew tradition names were chosen with care and selected with intention.
Many references in the Old Testament point to the coming Messiah and He was identified by many descriptive names such as: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), and the child born of a virgin would be called, “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Though many attributes were identified throughout the Scripture, there would only be one name that would encompass them all. One name would be chosen for the Christ that would forever identify all the attributes of God, all authority vested in Him, and be the source of salvation. However, that one name was kept secret until the fullness of time when it was to be revealed to humanity.
The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, a young virgin of Nazareth with the astonishing announcement, “You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). This was the revelation of the ages, the chosen name to identify the God of Glory wrapped in flesh, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Shortly after that momentous revelation to Mary, Gabriel appeared to Joseph to confirm this miraculous event and to insure the chosen name would be assigned to the promised child, “She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). This is the name above all others, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, … and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10–11).
The name of Jesus comes from the Hebrew Yeshua or Yehoshua meaning “salvation” or “Yahweh saves.” The angel emphasized that understanding when he said, “He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The name we proclaim is not just identity, it is the hope of the world and the means of salvation. His name is Jesus!
His Name shall Be!
Scripture:
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).