## The Name of Jesus

## Matthew 1:21

By the time that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He had already been given three names. In Isaiah 7:14, He is given the name of God (Immanuel or God with us) "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

In Isaiah 9:6, He is given the name of a King "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

And in our text this morning we see the message of the angel to Mary that gives Him the name of Savior, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." This morning I want us to consider four things about the name of Jesus.

I. It Identifies Him With His Person.

A. "JE" is the abbreviation for Jehovah.

1. The first syllable of His name identifies Him with the manifestation of Jehovah- God.

2. The Word of God clearly indicates that there is only one savior...Jehovah!

3. Is 43:11, "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour."

4. The word LORD in all capitals in our Bible is always a translation of the Hebrew word 'Jehovah'.

5. Since Jehovah is the only savior, then it is appropriate that Jesus' name as savior is Jehovah.

6. This is who He was and is, Jehovah God in flesh!

B. "Sus" is the abbreviation for Savior.

1. This second syllable of His name speaks of the mission, manner, and method of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. It speaks of His love, compassion, kindness, unselfishness, and self- sacrifice.

3. As Savior, He lived to save sinners, He died to save sinners, He rose from the dead to save sinners, He is now interceding in heaven to save sinners, and one day soon, He is coming again to complete His mission to save sinners!

4. His name identifies His person...He is Jehovah-Savior...Jesus!

II. It Identifies Him With His Purpose.

A. The mission of the Savior.

1. The name 'Jesus' explained the statement of the angel, "...for He shall save his people from their sins."

2. Christ came to deal with man's number one problem: SIN.

3. That was man's problem then and it continues to be our problem even today!

4. Jesus said that He came to seek and to save that which was lost. cf Lk. 19:10

5. This He did in His life, death, and resurrection.

B. The meaning of the word 'Savior'.

1. A variety of connotations for the word exists.

2. One who delivers, preserves, keeps, protects, and secures.

3. This is exactly what Jesus Christ was and is.

4. His name identifies Himself with His purpose: to totally and completely be "the savior of the world".

III. It Identifies Him with His People.

A. The Jewish people are considered 'his people'.

1. The Lord Jesus belongs to the Jewish people and the Jewish people belong to Him.

2. He was born a Jew.

3. His name is a Jewish name and this identifies Him with them.

4. When the gospel was first preached, it was preached to the Jews.

5. His first disciples were Jewish.

6. Jn 1:11-12, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"

7. In spite of Christ's national rejection by Israel, God still loves the Jew and desires for them to be saved.

B. All who believe in Him for salvation are considered to be 'His people'.

1. Jn. 6:37, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

2. He will save all who come to Him for salvation.

3. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God..."

4. Have you come to Him by faith? If not, why? What more can He do than that He has already done for us?

5. His name, Jesus, identifies Him with His people.

IV. It Identifies Him with His Praise.

A. Jesus is His manger name.

Mt. 1:21, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

B. Jesus is His ministry name.

Jn. 1:45, "Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

C. Jesus is His redemption name.

Jn. 19:19, "And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."

D. Jesus is His resurrection name.

Mk. 16:6, "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."

E. Jesus is His gospel name.

2Co. 4:5, "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake."

F. Jesus is His glorified and exalted name.

Ph. 2:9-11, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

"...and thou shalt call His name Jesus."

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? The name of Jesus says much to us about Him. It identifies Him with His person, with His purpose, with His people, and with His praise. Will you be willing to identify with Him? We identify with Him through our profession of faith, our baptism, our witness, and our daily life. Do others know we are 'His people'? Come this morning, whatever the need, and let Jesus Christ have His way in our lives.