The name “Jesus” is the English translation of that comes from the Latin form of the Greek name ‘lesous.” His blessed NAME has gone through quite the journey throughout time and various countries and cultures. The Hebrew name was “Yehoshua” which was later shortened to “Yeshua.” Its name in Aramaic is “Isho.” The main three languages in Jesus’ day were Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. How do we know that? Because we read in Luke 23:38, “And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Based on this fact, Jesus could have been called different names by different people, according to the language they spoke. Perhaps He was called “lesous” or “Isho” by most people, for Latin and Aramaic were the languages of the common people in that day. In time, the Bible was translated into English by the name which all English-speaking people know Him by, the precious name of “Jesus.”

What is important is that no matter which name/language was used, the meaning of the name never changed. The literal meaning of the name (as given in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, is “Jehovah-Saved.” Sometimes we say, “Jesus Saves” because “Jesus is Jehovah.” This meaning fits perfectly with what the angel told Joseph in Matthew 1:21, “And she (Mary) will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS” (NKJV).

This meaning is consistent throughout the New Testament. We read in John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who BELIEVE IN HIS NAME.” To “believe in His name” is to “believe He has saved you from your sins.” The moment you do that, He is “your SAVIOR” and you are a “child of God.” Another verse that all believers should love in connection with His name is Acts 4:7, Nor is there salvation in any other, for THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN given among men BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED.” Many are trusting in other names (Allah, Buddha, Brahma, etc.) to save them, but they will miss God’s great salvation and be lost forever if they don’t turn to Jesus who said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). Jesus was proclaiming Himself as the only “Savior” in this verse and telling sinners, “If you don’t believe I am the Savior, you will die unforgiven.”

I would like to close with some lines of a hymn that may not be well-known, but the truth of it should strike a chord in every believer’s heart:

“JESUS! How much Thy name unfolds to every opened hear,

The pardoned sinner’s memory holds none other half so dear.

Jesus, the One who knew no sin, made sin to make us just;

Thou gavest Thyself our love to win—our full confiding trust.

The mention of Thy name shall bow, our hearts to worship Thee;

The chiefest of ten thousand Thou, whose love has set us free.”  (DO)  (653.5)