What’s in a Name?

Luke 2:21 - He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Some names are given to pass on a family heritage. Others are given because the parents are into a certain movie star or popular figure. Sometimes a young mom does a Google search for the most interesting, unique name possible. Some parents name their children with the hope they will emulate the characteristics of someone else who had the name or what the name itself means.

Mary and Joseph had specific divine direction to give Jesus his name. Luke’s account includes Gabriel telling Mary, “You shall call his name Jesus.”  (Luke 1:31) Matthew records the angel telling Joseph, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Obviously, Jesus’ name was given on purpose.

Jesus is the New Testament equivalent of the Old Testament name Joshua. Joshua was Moses’ protégé and led the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Jesus is the Son of God and makes the way for all of us to enter the ultimate Promised Land as we trust in Him by faith. Jesus/Joshua means “The LORD (Jehovah/YHWH – God’s personal name in Hebrew) saves.” As the angel makes it clear, Jesus is God’s way of saving us.

The first Joshua saved God’s people from captivity and homelessness at the hands of others and led them to a temporal home. Jesus saves us from captivity at our own hands (sin) and leads us to an eternal, heavenly home when we believe in Him. As the Apostle Peter said shortly after Christ’s resurrection and ascension to Heaven, “There is no other name under heaven given among men[c] by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)