To answer your good and important question, let’s look at the announcement of the birth of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 1:18-21, “Now the birth of JESUS CHRIST was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS: FOR HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.”

The earthly name of the Son of God was very important.  The name, Jesus, literally means ‘savior’.  This name came directly through the instruction of the angel that appeared to Joseph.  Angels do the bidding of God, so we know this name came from God, Himself. 

We read in Matthew 1:16, “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”  This shows that Jesus is His name, and Christ is his title.  “Christ” is the equivalent to “Messiah” in the Old Testament.  It means the Anointed One. His complete name is the LORD JESUS CHRIST as we read in Acts 16:31, “And they said, Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

It is so interesting to realize that the name JESUS is found 942 times in the Bible.  JESUS CHRIST is found 189 times. LORD JESUS CHRIST is found 82 times in the Bible.  How prominent and important is His name!  His name is so important that even the sound of His name should cause us to bow our knee and worship Him.  We read in Philippians 2:9-11, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME: 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.”  There is no name that comes close to the majesty, glory, and exaltation of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.

To reduce His glorious name to two initials does such a great disservice to our Lord and His person.  When our president is addressed, he is referred to as MR. PRESIDENT.  When royalty is addressed, it is always by the titles HIS or HER MAJESTY.  Great respect is given to these offices and their official titles reflect the honor their titles deserve.  Can we treat the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ with less reverence that we give to mere mortals?  How can we refer to our Lord as JC, when we realize we would NEVER address Him like that?  How disrespectful that would be! 

  • We are saved through the name of Jesus Christ.  “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).
  • We are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  (Acts 19:5).
  • As believers, we should gather solely to the name of the Lord Jesus. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  (Matthew 18:20). 

Let us honor the Lord’s precious name.  It is that “name above every name” that demands our greatest respect.  Let us not reduce that precious name to two simple initials that do not show the respect our Lord certainly deserves.  (CC)  (611.6)