What does Jesus mean? Let’s see what the Bible tells us in answer to this question.
What Does Jesus Mean?
Jesus has the same root meaning as the Hebrew Old Testament name Joshua, meaning “Yahweh saves.”
The Angel Told Joseph to Name the Baby ‘Jesus’
“The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for He who is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
The Angel Told Mary to Name her Baby ‘Jesus’
“The angel told her, “Listen, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son and shall call His name JESUS” (Luke 1:31).
Jesus had no Surname
Jesus didn’t have a last name. Many assume ‘Christ’ is Jesus’ last name. But Christ is a title that comes from the Greek word ‘Christos,’ which means ‘chosen’ or ‘anointed.’ ‘Son of David’ functions more like a last name than Christ because Jesus was born in the line of King David. Yet, Jesus had no last name.
Other Names
The prophet Isaiah lived about seven hundred years before Jesus was born, and he said that the Savior’s mother would call His Name ‘Immanuel.’ Immanuel means ‘God with us,’ but that’s more a description than a name. The eternal Son of God took on human flesh, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, carried in His mother’s womb, and dwelt among us.
He left His heavenly home and came to Earth to reveal the invisible God to us:
“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
“Now all this occurred to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet, saying, “A virgin shall be with child, and will bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is interpreted, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22-23).”
Isaiah also prophesied that the Savior would be called by other ‘names’
“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 Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Salvation in no Other Name
Jesus saved His people by dying for their sins. The innocent for the ungodly. Jesus is the one name given under heaven:
“Be it known to you all … that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead …There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:10-12).”
Please watch the Great News Video on this page to find out how you can be saved by believing in the name of Jesus.
