And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. – Matthew 1:21
Have you ever looked up the meaning of your name? Many of us have inherited names from parents or other ancestors. Whether your name comes from your father or mother, or if it comes from a book or other source, your name identifies you. While your name may not be unique, it’s connection to you makes it so, and the way you live will be tied to that name for generations.
Your name is how others identify your work and contributions. Your name will be brought up in conversations today and for years to come. Will your name be associated with good or evil? It bears thinking about.
Jesus is such a name. It means Jehovah is salvation. A derivation of Joshua, the name Jesus was the Greek form of that older Hebrew name given to the hero of the Jewish people who led the nation out of the wilderness and into the Land of Promise. Jesus Christ led His people out of the wilderness as well. He truly saved them not just to a better home but away from sin and death. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” Romans 10:13). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Amen.