There’s something about a name. And there’s something about the name above all names, Jesus.
When the angel appeared to both Mary and Joseph, the angel was very clear about what the name of this baby should be.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20-21 (NLT)
“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”
Luke 1:30-32 (NLT)
But why Jesus? In that day and age, Jesus was an extremely common name, kind of like John in our day and age. In fact, it was the fifth most popular name for Jewish men at that time.
Why such a common, everyday name for such an uncommon baby? I mean, this is the Son of God! Doesn’t he deserve a unique, cool name?
But as I’ve been learning in the last year or so, there is definitely something very special about the name Jesus. The Hebrew name for Jesus is Yeshua; and in Hebrew, a name is more than just a name that you pick out of a book. In Hebrew, a name represents a calling or a destiny. It’s your identity.
And the name Yeshua in Hebrew means “Yahweh saves” or “to deliver, save or rescue.” One article I read said Yeshua literally means “the Lord is salvation.” Yeshua is obviously the perfect name for our Messiah!
And I have to say, I have fallen in love with this beautiful name. In fact, I wrote a song that will be coming out soon called Yeshua. It’s one of those songs that felt like it wrote itself while I was in Israel, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
The song was inspired by a conversation I had with a woman who was a Jewish Christian. As we visited for about an hour and a half about her recent trip to Israel and my upcoming trip, she referred to Jesus as Yeshua in our conversation. As I listened to her talk with such deep devotion to Yeshua as she described what I would experience in the Holy Land, the name began to feel like music to my ears. It was so incredibly beautiful. There was something about simply hearing her say that name that gave me a sense of peace.
We have missed so much meaning in the translations of the Bible from the original Hebrew and Aramaic to Greek and then to English, but this is one word I am going to hang on to. I want to know the heart of this Yeshua more and more, and simply whispering His name in the hard days continues to fill me with peace.
I encourage you to try it!
But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 (NLT)
Somehow changing that to “you were made right with God by calling on the name of Yeshua” feels more intimate, personal and powerful to me. I hope it does to you as well, my friend!
So the next time you’re in the middle of the storm and don’t know how to even begin to pray, which maybe you’re there right now, simply whisper the name that promises to rescue you…Yeshua.
When you’re feeling desperate and can’t put into words all that’s going on inside your head, gently whisper the name that promises to save you…Yeshua.
When you feel alone and need a friend, whisper the name of the One that promises to be with you always, to the end of the age…Yeshua.
Hugs and love,
Jill