“What’s in a Name?”
1.10.22
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
“Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Wonderful Counselor! Lord of life, Lord of all; He is the Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Holy One!” from “Emmanuel,” written and sung by Amy Grant
“Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven’s perfect Lamb? The sleeping child you’re holding is the great ‘I Am.’” Final stanza of “Mary, Did You Know?” by Mark Lowry, sung by Michael English
As I put pen to paper, fresh from the Christmas season, words from favorite Scripture verses and songs are still ringing in my head. These tie in with my study of the many beautiful and descriptive names the Bible gives us for Jesus. My heart fills with praise as I contemplate the origins, meanings and applications of these names, which include:
JESUS – Yeshua (Hebrew) – “to deliver, to rescue.” Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”
CHRIST – Christos (Greek), and MESSIAH – Masiah (Hebrew) – “the anointed one”
LAMB OF GOD – sacrificial, gentle, pure – John 1:29 “John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’”
SON OF GOD – Mark 1:11 “And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” / Matthew 16:15-17 “[Jesus] asked, ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.’” / Matthew 27:54 (following the crucifixion) “When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’”
LIGHT OF THE WORLD – John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
BREAD OF LIFE – the answer to spiritual hunger – John 6:35 “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’”
EMMANUEL (Greek)/ IMMANUEL (Hebrew) – “God with us” Isaiah 7:14b “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
I AM – highlighted by 13th century theologian Thomas Aquinas – John 8:58 “’Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’”
WONDERFUL COUNSELOR (who guides and comforts)
MIGHTY GOD (who is all-powerful)
EVERLASTING FATHER (who loves and cherishes us)
PRINCE OF PEACE (who heals relationships and provides inner peace)
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you for the words and names that give voice to the love and praise we humbly offer. Let the glorious music from Christmas continue to ring in our heads, as heartfelt thanks for the amazing gift of your precious Son and Savior of the World!
In Jesus name,
Amen
Carolyn Rex