Of all the names dear to men, the one most precious is the simple yet sublime name of Jesus. Like the apostle Paul, all who have been brought to know Him (Acts 9:5) can truly say that Jesus is the "name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:9).
"Thou shalt call His name Jesus" was announced by angels to both Mary and Joseph before the Babe was born, and to Joseph was added, "For He shall save His people from their sins" (Luke 1:31; Matthew 1:21). This personal name is not only a preeminently human one given to Him as man, but likewise preeminently divine seeing it proclaimed Him to be Jehovah God.
This double significance of the name Jesus is borne out in its construction. The first syllable JE, or Jah--Jehovah--speaks of divine authority, that Jesus came as the great I AM. Je tells us of His eternal Godhead, of His covenant relations, and of His mighty power and condescending love. All the virtues dimly seen in the Jehovah of old became manifest in Him who bore the name of Jesus.
The other syllable, SUS, is associated with the name Oshea, Hosea, or Houshaia, meaning "help," which was the name of one of the spies sent out by Moses, but which he changed to Jehoshua, signifying "Jehovah the Saviour," or "Deliverer" (Numbers 13:16). Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which itself is a contraction of Jehoshua. Thus in the second part
of Je-sus, we are assured of pardon and peace, of deliverance from sin and hell.
The matchless name Jesus, therefore, expresses the relation of Jehovah to Him in incarnation, by which "He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8), as the twin syllables of the name knit together imply.
The constant use of the name Jesus, some 700 times in the New Testament, testifies to the supreme position He occupied, and the high reverance given to His varied glories by those who knew Him. To them, such a precious name proclaimed who and what He is.
Further Reading:
Jesus Died For Our Sins
Call His Name Jesus
That Worthy Name
The King Of Glory - Bible Study on Jesus as King
Proof That Jesus Is The Jewish Messiah
|
