Miles McKee Ministries
PO Box 541, Kingston Springs, TN 37082
His Name, Jesus
By Miles McKee
“----thou shalt call His name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.
Matt 1:21
“He saves them from the guilt of sin, by washing them in His own atoning blood. He saves them from the dominion of sin, by putting in their hearts the sanctifying Spirit. He saves them from the presence of sin, when He takes them out of this world to rest with Him. He will save them from all the consequences of sin, when He shall give them a glorious body at the last day. Blessed and holy are Christ’s people! From sorrow, cross, and conflict they are not saved. But they are saved from sin for evermore. They are cleansed from guilt by Christ’s blood.
J.C. Ryle: Commentary on Mathew.
What a wonderful promise and perfect prophesy we find in the statement, “Thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins.” Notice how Jesus was prophetically named, His name being a revelation of His future work. This child would grow up and remove the iniquity of His people, in one day, by one great redemptive act upon the cross; therefore, we see prophecy bound up in the very name of Jesus.
But His name is not only a prophesy, it is also a promise to all of us who are so weak that we know we cannot save ourselves. Listen to what the angel said; he declared, “He shall save.” If He shall and will save us then we should abandon all our silly efforts to save ourselves.
Notice how His parents were to “Call his name Jesus;” this name, Jesus. This name is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Joshua which means “Jehovah or Yahweh, our Savior.” So once more we are confronted by another proof of His deity. He is Jehovah/Yahweh our Savior! Of course merely bearing this name of Jesus or Joshua, a common name in those days, did not mean its bearer was the LORD. Obviously, for example, General Joshua of the Old Testament was not God incarnate; he was not Jehovah the Savior. But when we read of the naming of Jesus we confronted immediately by the truth that He is Jehovah/Yahweh, God manifest in the flesh.
So what’s the difference? Why is Jesus God but Joshua a mere man? Good question! To answer it, let’s look at the text and ask why it is we are to call Him Jesus or Jehovah Savior. As we look, we discover we are to call Him Jesus, because He shall save his people from their sins! Now let me remind you, salvation is the work of Jehovah/Yahweh alone. But, since Jesus accomplished salvation, we must conclude that by doing so, He declared and confirmed His true identity. By saving His people He demonstrates that He is Jehovah the Savior! God named Him accurately!
Since it is the special function of Jehovah to save His people and the special function of the Lord Jesus to save His people we consequently must conclude Christ and Jehovah/Yahweh to be one and the same! If, however, Jesus does not save His people then He is not Jehovah/Yahweh; but since He does, His identity is established.
Furthermore, there were many children called Jesus or Joshua in those days? Were they also Jehovah in human flesh? No! They were called ‘Jesus’ by their parents, however, the Lord Jesus was named by God. That’s the difference! It was by God’s direct instructions that Christ was to be named Jesus.
But His name is not only a prophesy, it is also a promise to all of us who are so weak that we know we cannot save ourselves. Listen to what the angel said; he declared, “He shall save.” If He shall and will save us then we should abandon all our silly efforts to save ourselves.
Notice how His parents were to “Call his name Jesus;” this name, Jesus. This name is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Joshua which means “Jehovah or Yahweh, our Savior.” So once more we are confronted by another proof of His deity. He is Jehovah/Yahweh our Savior! Of course merely bearing this name of Jesus or Joshua, a common name in those days, did not mean its bearer was the LORD. Obviously, for example, General Joshua of the Old Testament was not God incarnate; he was not Jehovah the Savior. But when we read of the naming of Jesus we confronted immediately by the truth that He is Jehovah/Yahweh, God manifest in the flesh.
So what’s the difference? Why is Jesus God but Joshua a mere man? Good question! To answer it, let’s look at the text and ask why it is we are to call Him Jesus or Jehovah Savior. As we look, we discover we are to call Him Jesus, because He shall save his people from their sins! Now let me remind you, salvation is the work of Jehovah/Yahweh alone. But, since Jesus accomplished salvation, we must conclude that by doing so, He declared and confirmed His true identity. By saving His people He demonstrates that He is Jehovah the Savior! God named Him accurately!
Since it is the special function of Jehovah to save His people and the special function of the Lord Jesus to save His people we consequently must conclude Christ and Jehovah/Yahweh to be one and the same! If, however, Jesus does not save His people then He is not Jehovah/Yahweh; but since He does, His identity is established.
Furthermore, there were many children called Jesus or Joshua in those days? Were they also Jehovah in human flesh? No! They were called ‘Jesus’ by their parents, however, the Lord Jesus was named by God. That’s the difference! It was by God’s direct instructions that Christ was to be named Jesus.
Often in Scripture, when God names someone He identifies them as who they really are.
Consider that God has called (named) all believers sons of God (1 John 3:1). The reason we are called this is that we are actually and really Sons of God. Again, we see that God changed the name of Jacob, whose name meant supplanter, to Israel, which means one who rules with God. This is who he actually had become and God called him accordingly.
Consider that God has called (named) all believers sons of God (1 John 3:1). The reason we are called this is that we are actually and really Sons of God. Again, we see that God changed the name of Jacob, whose name meant supplanter, to Israel, which means one who rules with God. This is who he actually had become and God called him accordingly.
Furthermore, how interesting to note that our Lord was called by a Greek name, Jesus, and not a Hebrew one. I suspect, although many would not agree with me, this is not merely a translation for our convenience. I suspect He never was called Joshua or Jeheshua; I suspect He was always known as “Jesus” for this was the name put upon the inscription attached to the cross: It read, “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” It is not hard to believe that He always was called Jesus, a gentile name, because it would indicate that “his People” had reference to much more than the Jewish people? His people would come from all the nations of the earth.
In conclusion, the Lord is named Jesus, which means Jehovah/Yahweh Savior, thus again, in Him alone, we see God and man in one person. Furthermore, this child will be not merely “Jehovah a Savior” for He is much more; He is “Jehovah our Savior”; “Jehovah our deliverer”; one through whom our iniquities have been taken away. So remember, every time you call on this beautiful name of Jesus, you are affirming your belief that He is the Mighty God! If you don’t believe He is God, don’t call Him Jesus. The Father named Him Jesus to establish that he was to be the God/Man; so if you reject His identity you have deprived yourself of access to the most beautiful name in heaven or on earth. Furthermore, if you reject that he is God and yet call Him Jesus you are flying in the very face of the Almighty!
We cannot leave this section without including more heartwarming words from Bishop Ryle on the name of Jesus;
In conclusion, the Lord is named Jesus, which means Jehovah/Yahweh Savior, thus again, in Him alone, we see God and man in one person. Furthermore, this child will be not merely “Jehovah a Savior” for He is much more; He is “Jehovah our Savior”; “Jehovah our deliverer”; one through whom our iniquities have been taken away. So remember, every time you call on this beautiful name of Jesus, you are affirming your belief that He is the Mighty God! If you don’t believe He is God, don’t call Him Jesus. The Father named Him Jesus to establish that he was to be the God/Man; so if you reject His identity you have deprived yourself of access to the most beautiful name in heaven or on earth. Furthermore, if you reject that he is God and yet call Him Jesus you are flying in the very face of the Almighty!
We cannot leave this section without including more heartwarming words from Bishop Ryle on the name of Jesus;
“The word Jesus means simply “Savior.” It is the same word as “Joshua” in the Old Testament. Very striking and instructive is the selection of this name. The Son of God came down from heaven to be not only the Savior, but the King, the Lawgiver, the Prophet, the Priest, the Judge of fallen man. Had He chosen any one of these titles, He would only have chosen that which was His own. But He passed by them all. He selects a name which speaks of mercy, grace, help, and deliverance for a lost world. It is as a deliverer and Redeemer that He desires principally to be known.
Let us often ask ourselves what our own hearts know of the Son of God. Is He our Jesus, our Savior? This is the question on which our salvation turns. Let it not content us to know Christ as One who performed mighty miracles, and spoke as never man spoke; or to know Him as One who is very God, and will one day judge the world.
Let us see that we know Him experimentally, as our Deliverer from the guilt and power of sin, and our Redeemer from Satan’s bondage. Let us strive to be able to say, “This is my Friend—I was dead, and He gave me life—I was a prisoner, and He set me free.” Precious indeed is this name of Jesus to all true believers! It is “as ointment poured forth.” (Cant. 1:3.) It restores them when conscience-troubled. It comforts them when cast down. It smoothes their pillows in sickness. It supports them in the hour of death. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10.)
J.C. Ryle: Commentary on Luke 2:21
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