Find out what the Name of Jesus means, what it meant to the early Church and finally, what should it mean to us.
The purpose of a name
The purpose of a name in our western culture is simply to identify. The names John or Mary do not describe their bearers in any way. They are simply used to distinguish one person from another.
In the culture of the Bible, names were chosen for their meanings. Names were simply Hebrew words or phrases that anyone could understand. These names sometimes described the experiences of the parents. Moses named his son Gershom - a stranger here. He was an exile in the wilderness at the time. Jesus received his name because he was to save his people from their sins.
In the spirit realm, names directly describe their bearers. We read of demons in the New Testament called Legion, because they were many. There are angels in the book of Revelation called Death and Apollyon, which is Greek for Destroyer. The name Satan means Adversary or Opponent. Many people who have experience in deliverance and exorcism find that demons will actually give their names when challenged. They give names like Greed or Lust etc, which are descriptions of their characters.
Taken from http://www.growthingod.org.uk/NAME.HTM
What does the Name of Jesus mean and why did God specifically choose that Name?
Matt 1:21 - She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name [3686] Jesus [2424], because he will save [sozo 4982] his people from their sins."
NAME (Vines)
onoma Strongs Number:3686 is used (1) in general of the "name" by which a person or thing is called. (2) for all that a "name" implies, of authority, character, rank, majesty, power, excellence, etc., of everything that the "name" covers.
Strongs:2424 Iesous (ee-ay-sooce’); of Hebrew origin [OT:3091]; Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites: KJV - Jesus.
Strongs Number OT:3091 Yehowshuwa` (yeh-ho-shoo’-ah); or Yehowshu` a (yeh-ho-shoo’-ah); from OT:3068 [Jehovah] and OT:3467 [yasha` (yaw-shah'); a primitive root; properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor: KJV - X at all, avenging, defend, deliver (-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save (-iour), get victory]; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader: -Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare OT:1954, OT:3442.
Jesus comes from two Hebrew words: Jehovah yasha` God Saves.
He is the image of the invisible God Col 1:15
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form Col 2:9
I and the Father are one." John 10:30
What does the word "save" really mean?
Old Testament
TO SAVE (Vines) yasha’ OT:3467, "to help, deliver, save." It appears in all periods of Hebrew (including post-biblical Hebrew) and in biblical Hebrew about 205 times. The verb occurs only in the causative and passive stems.
Essentially the word means "to remove or seek to remove someone from a burden, oppression, or danger." In Ex 2:17 (the first appearance of this verb) yasha` signifies to remove someone from a burden or job: "…Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock." The word is frequently used of removing or seeking to remove someone from the danger of defeat: "And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua… saying, slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us…" Josh 10:6. This is a request to preserve them from possible death. The real danger is not yet upon them but soon will be. The Gibeonites see in Israel their only help.
In the realm of justice and civil law yasha` represents an obligation on the part of anyone who hears an outcry of one being mistreated: [See note below about the word "ask"] "For he [the rapist] found her [the one he was about to rape] in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her" Deut 22:27; cf. 28:29. Therefore, one may appeal especially to the king as the one obligated to help maintain one’s rights: "And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king" 2 Sam 14:4; cf. 2 Kings 6:26. The king also "delivered" his people from subjection to their enemies 1 Sam 10:27; Hos 13:10. Jeremiah says of the messianic king: "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely…" 23:6. Here yasha` is paralleled by "dwell safely," a phrase which identifies the meaning of yasha` as "to be preserved from danger." Ultimately, God is the Great King who "goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you [deliver you from danger]" Deut 20:4, and the Judge of all Israel.
(from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
What does "save" mean in the New Testament?
Strongs Number:4982 sozo (sode’-zo); from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saoz, "safe"); to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): KJV - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
Heb 7:25 - Therefore he is able to save completely [NKJV, save to the uttermost] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
SAVE, SAVING (Vines)
sozo NT:4982, "to save," is used (as with the noun soteria, "salvation") (a) of material and temporal deliverance from danger, suffering, etc., e. g., Matt 8:25; Mark 13:20; Luke 23:35; John 12:27; 1 Tim 2:15; 2 Tim 4:18 (KJV, "preserve"); Jude 5; from sickness, Matt 9:22, "made… whole" (RV, marg., "saved"); so Mark 5:34; Luke 8:48; James 5:15; (b) of the spiritual and eternal salvation granted immediately by God to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, e. g., Acts 2:47, RV "(those that) were being saved"; 16:31; 8:24, RV, "were we saved"; Eph 2:5,8; 1 Tim 2:4; 2 Tim 1:9; Titus 3:5; of human agency in this, Rom 11:14; 1 Cor 7:16; 9:22; (c) of the present experiences of God’s power to deliver from the bondage of sin, e. g., Matt 1:21; Rom 5:10; 1 Cor 15:2; Heb 7:25; James 1:21; 1 Peter 3:21; of human agency in this, 1 Tim 4:16; (d) of the future deliverance of believers at the second coming of Christ for His saints, being deliverance from the wrath of God to be executed upon the ungodly at the close of this age and from eternal doom, e. g., Rom 5:9; (e) of the deliverance of the nation of Israel at the second advent of Christ, e. g., Rom 11:26; (f) inclusively for all the blessings bestowed by God on men in Christ, e. g., Luke 19:10; John 10:9; 1 Cor 10:33; 1 Tim 1:15; (g) of those who endure to the end of the time of the Great Tribulation, Matt 10:22; Mark 13:13; (h) of the individual believer, who, though losing his regard at the judgment seat of Christ hereafter, will not lose his salvation, 1 Cor 3:15; 5:5; (i) of the deliverance of the nations at the Millennium, Rev 21:24 (in some mss.). (from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Salvation belongs to us because of what Jesus did and Who He is and His Name expresses this.
Isa 53:4-5 - Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Matt 8:16-17 - When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." (The Greek implies not only taking up bur carrying away)
The Name of Jesus is God’s complete solution to our all needs!
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess 5:23
Salvation means:
- Forgiveness and new life - Spirit
- Deliverance for our souls - Sou
- Healing of our bodies - Body
The Father ministered through Jesus and so do we, in His Name
John 17:6 - "I have revealed you [Greek, your name] to those whom you gave me out of the world.
John 17:11-12 - Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.
John 14:9-14 - Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask [Strongs 154] me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (A little bit later, we’re going to see what happened when the Apostles "asked" in Jesus’ Name.)
Jesus is the same today as He was then and He commands us to do what He did.
Heb 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Matt 28:18-20 - Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Mark 16:15-20 - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." See Acts 28:8
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matt 18:20
Acts 4:12 - Salvation [from the Greek word sozo] is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Examples of the Apostles ministering sozo in the Name of Jesus.
Acts 3:6, 16 - Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
"Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up. Acts 9:34 See I Peter 2:24
…where they continued to preach the good news [gospel]. In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. Acts 14:7-10
…faith comes from hearing the…word of Christ. Rom 10:17
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. Acts 16:16-18
Other Scriptures referring to the Name of Jesus.
In His Name
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11
Philippians 2:9 - Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Revelation 19:16 - On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
To be confessed
2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
Prayer
John 14:13 - And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask [2065] in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked [154] for anything in my name. Ask [154] and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:23-24
In that day you will ask [154] in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. John 16:26
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name. Hebrews 13:15
Miracles performed
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Acts 3:6
then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4:10
Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Acts 19:13
Immersion
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
Preaching
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47
Faith
In his name the nations will put their hope." Matthew 12:21
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- John 1:12
Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. John 2:23
Forgiveness of sins
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." Acts 10:43
I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 1 John 2:12
Life
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31
Salvation
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." Acts 10:43
All Scripture is from the NIV
