The name of Jesus has long been “sweet in a believer’s ear”. Today we feel repulsed when another person is called by His name, e.g. Jesus Christ Jones, a young African American lad in New York. This is because the name Jesus has become associated with the saving work of Christ.
In the Old Testament the name Jesus in Hebrew was Joshua, Jehoshua, and Jeshua. The King James Version twice confuses the Old Testament Joshua with the New Testament Jesus and calls Joshua, who succeeded Moses, Jesus in Heb. 4:8 and Acts 7:47.
In the New Testament the name Jesus is used some 600 times in the Gospels. ‘Jesus Christ’ is used only four times in the Gospels but over 100 times in the rest of the New Testament.
There were other people in the New Testament times called Jesus. Josephus mentions 19 who lived in the time of Christ, and Paul had a friend named Jesus Justus (Col. 4:11). To distinguish Him, Jesus was called Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospels and later Jesus the Christ (the Messiah) and Christ Jesus. Before long Jesus Christ became His proper name.
The earliest written reference to the birth of Jesus was by Paul (Gal. 4:4-5), before the Gospels were written, and he outlined the purpose of the coming of God’s son: “God sent forth His son to redeem His people.” That basic purpose is the meaning of the name Jesus. Joseph was told His name and its meaning (Matt.1:21).
The early Church used the name of Jesus as a means of calling upon His power. Paul pronounced judgement in the name of Jesus (1 Cor. 5:3-5). The name of Jesus was used by the exorcists in Acts 19:13-17. Christians suffered for His name’s sake (Matt. 10:22; 1 Pet. 4:16). Miracles were worked in His name (Acts 3:6) and baptism was to be in His name (Acts 19:5).
The name of Jesus stressed His humanity. He was the carpenter of Nazareth. Only when His saviourhood was fully understood was He consistently referred to as Jesus Christ. Barabbas had as a first name Jesus (Matt. 27:18) so Pilate’s choice was between Jesus Barabbas and Jesus the Christ.
The name of Jesus was His task. Joshua, which means “Jehovah our salvation”, led the people of God into the Promised Land. He was their captain and deliverer. The New Testament Christians saw how Jesus did the same with the spiritual lives of people bringing them into God’s rest. And as the Israelites passed through the waters of Jordan to get there, this point is not missed by some preachers on baptism!
FOR TODAY
“The Exorcist” was making the round of Australian theatres some years ago and causing many people to re-examine the influence and the effect of evil in the lives of ordinary people. Once more the name of Jesus is being involved in many areas so that the power of His name might change the lives of those held by sin and evil.
The name of Jesus refers to His ability to save us. We need to be saved both “from” and “to”. We are saved from sin and death and saved to serve and witness.
We need to continually emphasize that Christians are saved from sin and death, but also that people can be saved from insecurity, alienation, boredom and insignificance. They need to be reminded that they are saved to serve in trade unions, politics, factories, Sunday Schools, boardrooms and sporting fields.
The early Christians treated the name of Jesus with reverence not only because it symbolised Christ Himself but because it symbolised His redeeming work. When we use the name of the Lord in profanity we both injure the high regards of our Lord’s person and take in vain His redeeming work.
REV THE HON DR GORDON MOYES AC MLC