“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27:37)

At His birth and at His death, His birth certificate (as it were) and His death certificate – His given name is listed as Jesus. Because it is the most common name by which He is known, we can easily forget its significance. His name was not just a casual assignment given by Joseph; it was assigned by God and announced through an angel. God wanted Him called Jesus! But why?

The name is related to the mission: Jesus would save His people from their sins. He was marked from birth. Every time someone spoke His name, the Word of God was on their lips, God’s plan of salvation. How ironically poignant that the sign above His head on the cross pointed clearly to the identity of the One hanging there: “This is Jesus.” He is the Savior. That’s what made Him King of the Jews; he came to deliver His people from their sins.

The early Christians took the name of Jesus quite seriously, for we read they:

• Were baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38, 10:48)
• Healed “in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 3:6)
• Preached “the name of Jesus” (Acts 8:12)
• Preached “in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18, 9:27)
• Performed exorcisms “in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:18)
• Were persecuted because of “the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9)

His name is central to conversion:

“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)

His name is the focus for the ultimate submission of all creation and worship:

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9–11)

Lord, at the sound of Your name I bow down, honor and worship You.