JESUS: THE NAME SAYS IT ALL!
Did you know that in the Gospels, Jesus is called by that name over 500 times? In fact, the word “Jesus” appears 1,310 times in all of the New Testament (NIV). Of all the names and of all the titles that are given to Christ, the one most loved by His followers is JESUS.
If a name was designed to indicate the most significant thing about the person to whom it was given, then God in Heaven knew what He was doing when He named His son, Jesus, for His name means "Jehovah Saves” or “The Lord of Salvation.”
Were you aware that even though our Lord Jesus was born in obscurity and poverty over 2000 years ago and died like a criminal at the age of 33, His name is the most well-known name in the history of the world? Jesus possessed neither wealth nor influence. His relatives were inconspicuous and had neither training nor formal education, yet today Jesus is the most wonderful and enduring name in the world.
The Bible, which tells us about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, is the most popular book ever printed. Worldwide, there are 80,000+ versions of the Bible, with full Bibles in 530+ languages and portions of the Bible in about 2,900 languages (Wycliffe). More books have been written about Jesus than any other individual.
Jesus Christ is the King in the world of music. More music has been composed about Him than any other person, such as Handel’s “Messiah” and Bach’s “Ascension.”
Jesus is also the King in the world of art. More pictures have been painted of Him than any other person, like Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” and Ruben’s “Descent from the Cross.”
Jesus is an exclusive name. Jesus alone is God with us. In Matthew 1:23, we read, “They shall call his name Immanuel, which translated means, ‘God with us.”
Jesus alone is the only way to the Father. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Jesus alone has preeminence in the universe: “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (Colossians 1:16-18).
Jesus alone is the only name by which we must be saved: “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“He (Jesus) stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, as the risen, personal Christ, our Lord and Savior” (John Stott). His name says it all!
