I'd like to consider the name Jesus this month. I come from a background where I was taught that the name Jesus was used in the bible in reference to his humiliation. It was a name that was used when someone didn't recognize him as Lord and Christ. Thus any time I used the name of Jesus I would always add the title of Lord or Christ or the like.
E. W. Bullinger, noted that nowhere in the New Testament is he ever called only "Jesus" when directly addressed by his followers. It was his enemies and demons who refer to him only as "Jesus" in direct dialogue.
I assume from this he concluded that we should never use just the name Jesus when referring to God's son.
However, as brilliant as he was Bullinger also taught that speaking in tongues died with the apostles and wasn't for the church age among other things.
Can you imagine that Jesus would want his brothers and sisters feeling uneasy every time they say his name without any enhancement?
A name is what somebody or something is called: a word, term, or phrase by which somebody or something is known and distinguished from other people or things. Everybody has a name. It would be very confusing if we were all called by the same name.
Unless you're George Forman. Foreman has 10 children, and each of his five sons is named George: George Jr, George III, George IV, George V, and George VI. He is able to distinguish one from another by the use of nicknames such as "Monk," "Big Wheel" and "Little George."
His five daughters are Michi, Freeda, Georgetta, Natalie, and Leola I guess his wife wasn't having any of that with the girls.
Now like the name George Forman, George also has several titles he is recognized by. Like Champ, father, Olympic gold medalist, Christian minister.
But these are titles and there is a great difference between a title and a name.
A title is a designation added to a name: it's a word added to and usually but not always preceding somebody's name to indicate his or her rank, social status, or profession, or as a courtesy.
With this understanding let's begin to look at the name Jesus.
Luke 1:26—31 26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
The name Jesus means Jehovah is salvation.
God dispatched an angel in the sixth month named Gabriel.
Nothing wrong with the name Gabriel I'm sure God picked that name for a good reason. You see the name Gabriel means man, hero or champion of God.
Michael represents the angels in their might in conflict with evil, as does Gabriel in ministering comfort and sympathy to man in dark times. (Fausset's bible Dictionary).
Gabriel is known as God's messenger angel. Though commonly spoken of as an archangel, he is not so called in Scripture.
Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
Gabriel stands in the presence of God. I would say he's a pretty important angel. And anytime his name is mentioned we associate these truths with him. He is the one who stands in the presence of GOD. He is the one God trust with valuable information he sends to man.
He was the one who brought God's word and message to mankind regarding, the birth of John (name) the Baptist (title) Luke 1:19.
He was the one who was sent to Daniel to explain the vision God gave Dan 8:16.
Gabriel was sent to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Here we have three more names given Joseph, David, and Mary.
Gabriel's message to Mary was "thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. "
The name Jesus means Jehovah is salvation. God wanted his son called Jesus. And every time the name of Jesus was spoken it reminds the world that Jehovah is salvation. What a testimony and witness for the one true God.
Jehovah is salvation. Has anyone ever taught you that every time you say the name Jesus you are declaring that Jehovah is salvation? To distinguish him from others called Jesus, he is spoken of as "Jesus of Nazareth" and Jesus the son of Joseph.
John 18:4—7 4Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was originally Oshea.
Numbers 13:8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.
In verse 16 we see that Moses changed Oshea name to Jehoshua.
Numbers 13:16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
Jehoshua who is also called Joshua which means in Hebrew Jehovah is salvation. After the Exile it assumed the form Jeshua, whence the Greek form Jesus. It was given to our Lord to denote the object of his mission, to save.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
This is common is God's word. When God or his agent would name a person the meaning of the name is usually in the same verse, and would describe the object of his mission.
Genesis 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham: for a father of many nations have I made thee. {Abraham: that is, Father of a great multitude}
To Be Continued …
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.