What's in a Name?

In Matthew 1:21 we read: “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Is this possible? If this is true, what is the significance of it all? Surely God does not perform such a miracle for any small purpose. These kinds of thoughts must have been racing through Joseph’s mind. The answer to these questions came in the same message, “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” What a purpose!

But did Joseph fully understand what this meant? I think probably not. How often we fail to see the full significance of this name even after we’ve experienced the grace from the hand of the One bearing the name. However, two things could have come instantly into Joseph’s mind when he heard the name with which he was to call this baby boy.

Two other men of the Old Testament bore this name. The Hebrew form of the name is Joshua: “Yahweh Saves.” There was Joshua the captain of the army of Israel that led God’s people out from the punishment for their sins (the wilderness wanderings) and into the Promised Land. Then there was Joshua the High Priest after Israel’s captivity to Persia, of whom it was said, “the counsel of peace shall be between them” (Zech. 6:13); and of whom it was also said, “he shall build the temple of the Lord.”

One Joshua led Israel into salvation and blessing, and the other Joshua led them into peaceful relationship with God in his presence. “Christ is our Joshua; both the Captain of our salvation, and the High Priest of our profession, and, in both, our Savior” (Matthew Henry).

One Joshua led Israel out of their wanderings in the wilderness; Jesus leads us out of our hopeless pursuit of sin. Joshua led Israel into a land flowing with milk and honey; Jesus leads us into every blessing that our heavenly Father could possibly bestow on us.

The other Joshua represented the people before God in the temple; Jesus represents us by being our Great High Priest that places that temple in our hearts and by tearing the curtain to the Holy of Holies so that we can forever, in peace, come boldly to the throne of grace. Jesus leads us out of the bondage of our sin and into “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph 1:3). While it was said that “the counsel of peace shall be between them,” referring to Joshua the High Priest; it has also been said of Jesus, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.”

What amazing truth is wrapped up in just our Savior’s name: Jesus.

Elliot Shorey