Our 59th Word is Jesus

The simple definition of the name Jesus is a proper name that means “Jehovah is salvation” or “the Lord saves”.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

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Unless you’re an angel, which is highly doubtful or you are somehow reading this from heaven, even more doubtful, you we all  need rescue right now from at least one of the following:

• Apathy
• Lust
• Depression
• Guilt
• Regret
• Impure motives
• Fear of _______
• Anger
• A wrong belief
• An addictive habit
• Envy
• Shame
• A powerful temptation
• An unwise plan
• Self-pity
• Pride
• Unemployment
• A sticky situation
• Debt
• Greed
• Worry
• Purposelessness
• Impatience
• A parenting dilemma
• A soul-killing job
• Discouragement
• People pleasing
• Gluttony
• A toxic relationship
• A critical spirit
• Selfishness
• Doubt
• Hypocrisy
• Bitterness
• Exhaustion
• A broken heart
• Loneliness
• Graceless religion
• Materialism
• Hopelessness

The real fact here is, there’s not a single day that goes by that we don’t need some kind of saving.

Enter Jesus!

The angel Gabriel sat Joseph down. After explaining that the baby boy growing in Mary’s womb had been conceived by the Holy Spirit, he issued the divine command, “Give him the name Jesus.”

Jesus literally means “the Lord saves.” It was a very common name in ancient Palestine, the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Joshua. And, in fact, the King James Bible, in discussing the Old Testament character Joshua in Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8, refers to Him as “Jesus”.

Such genius! Every time the name Jesus is spoken, whether yelled when people are angry or called when folks are in agony, it’s a reminder that the world needs, that we need, rescue from sin and all its terrible consequences.

The Bible’s claim that that there’s power in the name of Jesus (Luke 10:17; John 14:13; Acts 4:12, 30; Romans 10:13) doesn’t mean we turn His name into an incantation, like a Vegas performer exclaiming, “Abracadabra!” Jesus’s power is experienced by people who call on Him and trust Him from their hearts, not by those who mindlessly say His name with their mouths.

Jesus is “the name that is above every name.” One day people will finally stop using His name as an expletive. Every mouth will acknowledge that He is Savior, Messiah, and Lord “to the glory of God the Father”. (Philippians 2: 9-11).

The Gospels show Jesus saving all kinds of people from all sorts of things. Meaning, no matter where you saw yourself in that list above, Jesus is well able to deliver you.

Here’s a good recommendation: memorize Peter’s urgent cry, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30), and take it with you everywhere.

We all need it for sure.

Question to Ponder

1. Jesus means “the Lord saves”. What precise things or situations do you need saving from today?