There's Something About That Name

CONSIDER 

When Jesus says, “you gave me your name,” he is speaking quite literally. Before he was born, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her she would give birth to the Lord’s messiah. Gabriel also told Mary what the child’s name would be, and that name literally contains God’s name and his purpose for his Son. 

The name Jesus is a Greek translation of the Hebrew word Yeshua, which is a shorter form of the name Yehoshua. Literally translated, Jesus’ name comes from two words. First, Yeho or Yasha, which refers to Yahweh, a common name (or label) for The Lord. Second, yasha, which means rescue, deliver, or save. Together, these words are Yeho-yasha, which means “God saves.” 

Paul writes about the power of unity in the name of Jesus. One day, every single person will be confronted with the reality that Jesus is Lord of all. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess this as truth. We will be judged by our faith and the way we stewarded the mission of God in this life. 

Between now and then, we have the opportunity to be unified under that name. Unity comes by obeying Yeho-yasha, Yehshua, Jesus, who only said what the Father told him to say and only did what the Father told him to do. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to make this happen, who only says what Jesus tells him to say.  

 
REFLECT 

Does the name of Jesus inspire awe in you? Do you bow your knee to him now and devote yourself fully to learning and living his way? If not, it’s understandable. Jesus also calls us friend. In our culture, we tend to lean into that aspect of our relationship with Jesus and who bows their knee to their friend?  

PRAY 

Jesus, Lord, Savior, Friend, I want to live in holy reverence of your powerful name. Show me one way I can lift your name and share it with others today. Thank you not only for loving me as a friend and saving me as my savior, but also for showing me how to submit to you.