THE NAME OF JESUS

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

THE NAME OF JESUS

(Matthew 1:21) … and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

What do you call the Messiah, the Savior of the world?  It would have to be an important name to fit His noble character.  Even today the world waits anxiously when royal children are named in England.  When the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph he told him the Child within Mary was of divine origin and to call his name Jesus.  What can we learn from the name of Jesus?    

HISTORICAL – Actually the name of Jesus was a very common name in Israel.  In the Old Testament the Hebrew name for Jesus was Joshua.  There were two popular Joshuas in the Jew’s history:  Joshua the assistant of Moses who led the Hebrews into the Promised Land and Joshua the post-exilic high priest.  So to name your child Joshua was a special thing to do.  

PROPHETICAL – The angel said to call the baby’s name Jesus because He would save His people from their sins.  Jesus (or Joshua) means “Jehovah is salvation”.  How fitting because that is what Jesus would do on the cross and through the resurrection.  He would save mankind from their sins and give them eternal salvation as they placed their faith in Him.  

PRACTICAL – But the name of Jesus is not only historical and prophetical, but also practical.  Jesus is the:

- NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES:  (Phil 2:9) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. 

- ONLY NAME BY WHICH A PERSON MAY BE SAVED: (Acts 4:12) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

- NAME THAT CAN BRING DELIVERANCE:  (Joel 2:32) … whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

- NAME THAT BRINGS HEALING: (Acts 4:30) by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

My good friend and pastor Mark was up for cancer surgery and was in the hospital calling on the name of the Lord for peace and healing.  He asked the Lord to give him some kind of sign that He was with him.  Just then a male nurse walked in and said he was the one who would be with him by his side and that everything would be alright.  When Mark looked at his name badge it said Jesus! (Obviously of Latino origin)  What a peace came over him as he relaxed back onto his pillow and called on the name of Jesus!!

Louie

GETHSEMANE

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

GETHSEMANE

(Mark 14:32) Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane…

Gethsemane is the name of an olive-yard at the foot of the Mount of Olives where Jesus frequently gathered with His disciples because of its secluded garden-like environment (Luke 22:39).  The name actually means “olive press” and refers to how oil presses were used to extract oil from the olive fruit.  How prophetic because this is what Jesus experienced there the night of His betrayal.  

The evening started out festive.  It was Passover and the disciples had a traditional Seder meal in an upper room prepared for the occasion.  That night Jesus introduced the Lord’s Supper (communion) and washed the disciple’s feet.  It was also the night where Judas left early so he could have Jesus arrested.  When the dinner was completed Jesus and the eleven made their way down to the Kidron Valley, over the brook, and up the ascent of the Mount of Olives and into the garden enclosure of Gethsemane.  Though they were under a full moon, a strange darkness enveloped this nocturnal assembly and an eerie stillness seized the atmosphere.  

The first thing Jesus did was tell His disciples to sit down while He prayed in the distance with Peter, James and John accompanying Him.   He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.  He told the trio that His soul was exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Then He asked them to stay and be in a watchful mode with Him.  Jesus went a little farther and He knelt down and prayed.  His prayer was fervent and intense.  “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”  At that moment an angel appeared to Him from heaven and strengthened Him.  He prayed even more fervently even though He was in such agony. This intensive supplication produced such body trauma that His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.  When He got up from prayer He came to His disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow.  

Calvary was won in Gethsemane!  It was there that Jesus yielded His will to the Father to suffer and die for the sins of all humanity.  That’s why Jesus could give Himself to Judas and his arresting band.  That’s why He could suffer all night at the hands of evil men.  And that’s why in the morning He would let them drive the nails through His hands and feet into a wretched Roman cross and bleed and die.  

What about you?  Are you experiencing a Gethsemane in your life right now?  Are you being pressed like never before?  Are you in agony of soul over something you are being called to do that is against your nature?  Then it’s time to pray, “Your will be done!”  God will strengthen you to choose the Father’s will as painful as that may be.  Jesus died but He also rose again for our salvation.  The best things come when we choose God’s will over our own!   

Louie