“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
As parents-to-be, I remember scouring through a plethora of potential names for our baby using a book entitled, “3,500 Names for Baby.” There was a boy section and a girl section, and each name had its meaning listed. We contemplated several different ones until we finally settled on the perfect name for our child. What a joy it was to finally see him and name him!
It wasn’t until modern times that there was a book of baby names for prospective parents. Before that time, many parents chose family names, as some still do today, but there were a few very special couples who were told by God what to name their children, and the significance of those babies’ names stands out.
For example, Abraham was told the name of his son as recorded in Genesis 17:19. “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.” Isaac means “he will laugh.” Remember how Abraham and Sarah both laughed at the idea of having a child in their old age? (Genesis 17:17, 18:12)
Another father-to-be, Zacharias, was told the name of his son by an angel. Luke 1:13 records, “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.” The name John means “God’s gracious gift,” and it truly was for Zacharias and Elisabeth were well beyond childbearing age.
Lastly, there was Joseph, who was told by an angel in a dream that he was to be the earthly father of God’s own Son, and that he should name the child, Jesus. In this instance, the angel actually tells Joseph the meaning of the name. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The name Jesus means “the Lord saves.”
As the angel continued explaining to Joseph about the miraculous conception of Jesus, it also added a second name that Jesus would be known by. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
What perfect names to describe our Redeemer-to-be. “Jesus” because He would eventually pay the price to “redeem” us from our sins demonstrating that He is the “Lord who saves.” Hebrews 9:12 states, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” He was also known as “Emmanuel” because God came to live with His creation as a man in order to become our Saviour. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word was made 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 1:1, 14) God was truly with us!
There is no other person that can forgive our sins and save our souls. Who He is and what He did is remembered by His given names of “Jesus” and “Emmanuel.” Blessed be the name of the Lord! He is truly worthy of our praise and worship!
There have been names that I have loved to hear,
But never has there been a name so dear
To this heart of mine, as the name divine,
The precious, precious name of Jesus.
Jesus is the sweetest name I know,
And He’s just the same as His lovely name,
And that’s the reason why I love Him so;
Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.
(from “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know” by Lela Long)
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11
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During my visit to Israel, I was told that this olive tree pictured above was one of the oldest in Gethsemane. Perhaps Jesus spent some time in the shade of this very tree when He walked among us!