“You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)
“Of [David’s] offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as He promised.” (Acts 13:23)
A poor, young Jewish girl living in Nazareth around the year 5 BC was visited one day by God’s special messenger angel, Gabriel. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you! … behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus,” (Luke 1:26-31).
This was God’s Son, and God named Him Jesus. The name “Jesus” in our English New Testament is not actually translated as such from the Greek. Rather, it is a transliteration, meaning it is derived by changing the Greek letters to similar-sounding English letters. Further, if the Greek word “Jesus” was actually translated into English, it would literally read “Yahweh is Salvation.”
Further, on first glance, one might think the word “Jesus” only occurs in the New Testament; but that isn’t the case. It simply appears in different forms in the Old Testament.
Hebrew derivations of “Jesus” in the Old Testament take the form of salvation or savior: “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,” (Ex. 14:13, the Hebrew word Yeshuah), and “Truly, you are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior,” (Isa. 45:15, the Hebrew derivative Yahshaw). This is even true of the word saving: “Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.” (Ps. 20:6, the Hebrew Yehshah).
In the Old Testament “Jesus” was more properly translated as “Joshua” or “Yeshuah,” or even Yeshuah Meshiach, the Anointed Savior. This Hebrew form “Meshiach” references the One specially chosen and ordained, anointed by the Spirit to accomplish God’s covenanted divine work and fulfill His plan of salvation. Thus, “Yeshuah” or “Yahweh is Salvation” is found throughout the Old Testament, referring to the Messiah, the Anointed Savior of God, in types and shadows.
Henry Ainsworth, an excellent Hebrew scholar, explains: “‘Jehovah is salvation,’ means salvation is, or salvation belongs, or of Jehovah is salvation, help, or deliverance.” Why does this matter? Because salvation, help, deliverance, and similar Old Testament Hebrew terms all point to the title of Yahweh is Salvation which is Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah and Savior of the New Testament. To say Jesus Christ, is to say “Yahweh is Salvation” or “The Anointed Savior” of God.
It would have been a great burden for religious leaders in Jesus’ day to call Him “Jesus” – Yahweh is Salvation – since they rejected Him, despised Him and wanted to kill Him. The Pharisees and Scribes would never have called Him “Savior,” God’s “Salvation” or the “saving power” of God’s right hand by saying His Greek name, much less His Hebrew name. So, to avoid all that they called Him “Rabbi” or “Teacher” instead.
On the other hand, Mary, His earthly mother, would have called Him either “Ee-ay-sooce” (the Greek word Ἰησοῦs) or “Yeshuah” which is Joshua in Hebrew, both of which mean Yahweh is Salvation.
So, whether in Greek or Hebrew, “Jesus” is our Savior. Jesus is so much the Savior that His very name means salvation itself, and this truth is repeatedly affirmed in both the Old and New Testaments.
Do you affectionately address your Lord as Jesus, your salvation, Savior, and saving strength, the one to whom you belong? Do you adore God for the gift of His Son, Yahweh is Salvation?
“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,”
(Phil. 2:10-11)
- Lord Jesus, I’m amazed at how I take things for granted. I never considered what Your name actually means. I just thought it was Your name. Now I realize that every time I speak Your name, I’m actually affirming the Gospel message that You are truly the Savior. You are my Savior! Your name is “Savior” because, as the angel Gabriel announced, You save Your people from their sins! Lord help me better realize the depth of what Your name means as I say it and read it in Your Word.
- I always thought Your name was only found in the New Testament, but now I know it’s also throughout the Old Testament as well – just in a different form. From before the beginning of time You are Jesus – meaning God is Salvation. When I read the psalms now and I see Deliverer, Savior, salvation, saving arm – I know all these are forms of Your name. Forgive me for not seeing this before, Lord, and help me read with more attention and understanding that I might see You throughout the Bible.
- Who is Jesus Christ the Savior to me? You are the eternal Son of God who left heaven to come to earth in the form of a man in order to become my Savior, my sacrifice. You were tempted and You suffered like other men, except You were without sin of any kind, in any form. You suffered the most gruesome death imaginable to pay the debt I owed the Father for all my sin. You then rose again and ascended back to heaven. And You are rightly called JESUS CHRIST, for You are the ANOINTED SAVIOR of all those who believe. I am one of those believers! Thank you for being my Savior!
- Your very name shows me that You are Master and Lord. You are Head over all things. You are supreme and absolute, my source of strength to live before You daily as Your servant. You rule the world by Your powerful providence, and Your church by Your Word. Is there comfort in knowing that You are my Master, Lord and Savior? Absolutely, in every way! It doesn’t matter that the world is going crazy. It doesn’t matter that I’m surrounded by all kinds of hard circumstances; I don’t need to fear. You are not only Lord to protect me, but Master of all things that rise up against me. Help me experience the power of Your grace so I can see You as my Savior more clearly and serve You acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Further References for Matthew 1:21
Ps. 27:1, 38:22; Luke 1:31, 2:11; Acts 4:12, 5:31, 13:38; John 1:29.
