
What’s In a Name?
There are approximately 200 names and Titles of Jesus.
Two are mentioned specifically in the Christmas story.
Jesus…
Luke 1:31 – And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
Luke 2:21 - And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Jesus was the name of His humanity. It was a common name.
-There were at least five high priests known as Jesus.
-Historian Josephus refers to about twenty people during this time called Jesus.
-Jesus, who is called Justus, is mentioned in Col. 4:11.
-Bar-Jesus, the sorcerer of Paphos is mentioned in Acts 13:6.
-Tradition states that Jesus was the first name of Barabbas. If so Pilot would have asked, “Do you want me to release Jesus-Barabbas or Jesus-the Messiah?”
Implications:
-Jesus was touchable, approachable, and reachable!
-Jesus lived and experienced life just as we do.
-Jesus’ High Priestly role is based on His humanity (Hebrews 4:15-16).
“There were those who mocked him. There were those who were envious of him. There were those who misunderstood him. There were those who revered him. But there was not one person who considered Him too holy, too divine, or too celestial to touch. There was not one person who was reluctant to approach him for fear of being rejected.” Edward Hardee
Immanuel…
Matthew 1:23 - BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
Immanuel is the name of his deity! It stresses the fact that the babe in the manger was God in the flesh!
Four implications of the name Immanuel:
1. God is with us – In the Flesh!
-1 Timothy 3:16, “…great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh…”
-John 1:14. “…and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
-Philippians 2:6-7, “although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
2. God is with us – As Redeemer!
-1 Peter 1:18-29, “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold… but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”
-Acts 20:28, “…shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
3. God is with us – In all fullness!
-Colossians 2:9, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.”
-John 1:18, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
4. God is with us – Always!
-Hebrews 13:5-6, “…for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”
-Matthew 29:19, “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”