THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NAME JESUS

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NAME JESUS

God had a final and the most complete revelation of His name, which He revealed to the New Testament people as JESUS. When the fullness of time came, God did satisfy the longings of His people and revealed Himself in all His power and glory through the name JESUS. JESUS is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name variously rendered as JEHOSHUA (Numbers 13:16), JESHUA (Ezra 2:2), or JOSHUA (Exodus 17:9). See also Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8, which show that Jesus is the same name as Joshua. Jesus means Jehovah-Savior, Jehovah our Salvation, or Jehovah is Salvation (Matthew 1:21).

The identification of the name Jesus with salvation is particularly evident because the Hebrew for Jeshua is practically identical to the Hebrew for salvation, especially since ancient Hebrew did not use written vowels. 

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance transliterates Jeshua as Yeshuwa and the Hebrew word for salvation as

Yeshuwah. Although others have borne the name Jehoshua, Joshua, or Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who actually lived up to that name. He is the only One who is actually what that name describes.

Jesus is the culmination of all the Old Testament names of God. It is the highest, most exalted name ever revealed to mankind. The name of Jesus is the name of God that He promised to reveal when He said, "Therefore my people shall know my name" (Isaiah 52:6). It is the one name of Zechariah 14:9 that encompasses and includes all the other names of God within its meaning.

The Power of the name of JESUS

• The New Testament church is identified by the name of Jesus. Jesus said that the church would be hated among all men for His name's sake (Matthew 10:22). The Early Church was persecuted for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:28; 9:21; 15:26), and they considered it a privilege to be counted worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:41).
• The lame man at the gate Beautiful was healed "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Acts 4:10).
• The name of Jesus is the only name by which one can receive salvation: "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).
• The name of Jesus is the only name to which every living being will have to pay homage, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (Philippians 2:9-10).
• The name of Jesus must be relied upon in all we do or say: "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17).
• Teaching and preaching must be done in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:17-18; 5:28, Luke 24:47).
• It is in the name of Jesus that we cast of devils, speak in tongues, receive supernatural power and protection, and pray for the sick (Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14).
• Signs and wonders are done by the name of Jesus (Acts 4:30).
• It is in the name of Jesus that prayer and requests must be made known to God (John 14:13-14; 16:23).
• It is in the name of Jesus that baptism must be done for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

The name of Jesus is unique because unlike any other name it represents the presence of its owner; it represents God's presence, power, character, and work. When we speak the name of Jesus in faith, Jesus Himself is actually present and begins to work. When we call His name in faith, Jesus manifests His presence, performs the work, and meets the need, according to His SOVEREIGN WILL. For the name of Jesus to be effective we must have faith in His name (Acts 3:16), and in Him (Acts 19:13-17).

• The name JESUS is God’s final and complete revelation of Himself. No more does God carry on the process of PROGRESSIVE REVELATION, the name Jesus is the last of such revelation.
• The Bible foretold that the Messiah would declare the name of the LORD (Psalm 22:22; Hebrews 2:12).
• Jesus asserted that He had manifested and declared the name of the Father (John 17:6, 26).
• Jesus inherited His name from the Father (Hebrews 1:4).
• Jesus manifested and declared the Father's name by unveiling the meaning of the name through the works that He did, which were the works of Jehovah (John 14:10-11).
• Just as God in the Old Testament progressively revealed more about His nature and His name by responding to the needs of His people, so Jesus in the New Testament fully revealed the nature and name of God through miracles, healings, casting out of devils, and forgiveness of sins.
• Jesus declared the Father's name by His works; for by them He proved that He was indeed the Father, the Jehovah of the Old Testament. (See Isaiah 35:4-6 with Luke 7:19-22.) By demonstrating the power of God in accordance with the prophecies, He proved that Jesus was the name of the Father.
• Why is the name of Jesus the full revelation of God? Simply because Jesus is Jehovah and in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, including the role of Father (Colossians 2:9). 
• Jehovah Himself declares that He is JESUS (Acts 9:3-5).