What’s in a name?
Written by Twin Cities Salvation Army Commander, Major Jeff Strickler
“Jesus” means many things to many people. To some he is a good teacher, to others he is a wise man, to others he is a healer, and the list goes on.
In the oft-quoted line from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet – “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” – Juliet Capulet speaking to Romeo Montague makes it sound as if names are essentially meaningless.
Names, however, do carry meaning. The name “Jesus” – or Yeshua/Yehoshua – carries with it the meaning “God saves (delivers, rescues) his people.” The angel, after providing Mary with the name for her forthcoming child, tells her the reason behind the name: “He will save his people from their sins.” Jesus’ name is a name with meaning – the angel makes it clear.
Unfortunately, there has historically been a great lack of clarity about Jesus – at least in people’s perceptions about him – about who he is and what he does. Even Jesus got a variety of answers when he asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” Jesus followed with, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter got it right: “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God.”
Many people in Jesus’ day anticipated a Messiah, an anointed one, who would deliver or save Israel from Roman rule or who would be a great ruler/politician – but not necessarily a Messiah who would deliver his people from their sins. This truth can be traced through Old Testament prophecies, back to what is believed to be the earliest prophecy recorded in Scripture regarding the Messiah – Genesis 3:14-15. This prophecy is sometimes referred to as the “Protoevangelion,” which means the first announcement of the gospel.
“So the LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this … I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” Genesis 3:15 (NIV). The offspring or seed of a woman being referred to in this verse is Jesus, as confirmed in the New Testament’s Galatians 4:4. Isn’t it fascinating that the first promise of the Messiah would be right after sin infects the human race. Immediately after the fall, there’s the promise from God to send a rescuer who would deal with the sin problem facing humankind – one who would crush the tempter (the devil) and his power in the process.
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil” – Hebrews 2:14 (NIV).
So who is Jesus to you this Christmas? A baby born 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem? A peaceful infant still lying in a manger? Or is he the sin-busting, devil-crushing Savior that the angel said he would be?
Let’s believe the angel and the testimony of Scripture. God bless you this Christmas as you reflect on Jesus.