The name of a person often carries deep meaning that provides insight into their identity and purpose. In the Bible, names were frequently given to align with the individual’s special calling.
The name Jesus, meaning “Yahweh is salvation,” signifies the very essence of who Christ is and what He came to accomplish.
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and Joseph, he instructed that the baby born of the virgin would be called Jesus, “for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
This name connects back to Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be called Immanuel, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23), indicating Jesus’ divinity and mission to dwell among humanity as Savior.
Even from birth, Jesus’ name set Him apart as the long-awaited one who would deal with the problem of sin.
The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning “Yahweh is salvation.” This name was given to Mary’s son by the angel Gabriel, who told Joseph in a dream that Mary “will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
Jesus’ name reflects His mission and purpose—to save people from their sins.
Names in the Old Testament Reflected God’s Purpose and Calling
In the Old Testament, God often gave people names that reflected their character or mission.
For example, Abraham and Sarah were originally called Abram and Sarai, but God changed their names to reflect His promise to make them the father and mother of many nations (Genesis 17:5, 15).
Similarly, the name Jesus highlights that He is the one who will provide salvation.
Throughout the Old Testament, God frequently changed people’s names to signify a new purpose or identity He was giving them.
For example, He changed Abram, meaning “exalted father,” to Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude,” when establishing him as the patriarch of many nations (Genesis 17:5). God changed Sarai, meaning “my princess,” to Sarah, meaning “mother of nations,” when promising she would become a mother of kings and nations despite her old age (Genesis 17:15-16). In the same way, Jesus’ name given by the angel connected Him to the prophecy of salvation from Isaiah and other Messianic prophecies.
The Hebrew name Yeshua literally translates as “The Lord saves” or “The Lord is salvation,” pointing directly to Jesus’ saving mission.
Messianic prophecies such as Isaiah 53 and Psalms 22 also indicated the Messiah would suffer and die as an atoning sacrifice for sins, alluding to the salvific work Jesus would accomplish.
The fact that Jesus came to save people from their sins is emphasized throughout the New Testament.
When the angel appeared to Joseph, he referenced a prophecy from Isaiah 7:14, which foretold that a virgin would give birth to a son named Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy, as He is God in the flesh who dwelt among humanity (John 1:14).
The book of Matthew goes on to describe John the Baptist’s ministry, in which he called people to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins in preparation for the coming of the Messiah (Matthew 3:1-6).
When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John recognized Him as the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus’ baptism signifies His identification with sinners and His readiness to take on Himself the sins of the world.
After His baptism, Jesus began His earthly ministry by proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God and by performing many miracles and healings (Matthew 4:23-24). These miracles demonstrated Jesus’ compassion and His authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:2-8).
Jesus’ Ministry Demonstrated His Authority to Forgive Sins
Jesus associated with sinners, which earned Him the reputation as a “friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matthew 11:19).
The religious leaders criticized Him for spending time with such people, but Jesus responded, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17).
Through His extensive teachings and parables, Jesus made clear that His purpose was to seek and save the lost.
In the parable of the good shepherd, Jesus depicted Himself as the shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to search for the one lost sheep, rejoicing when it is found (Luke 15:3-7).
In the parable of the lost coin, He illustrated the woman’s tireless effort to find the misplaced coin, representing God’s deep desire for the redemption of a lost sinner who repents (Luke 15:8-10). One of Jesus’ most famous parables is that of the prodigal son, telling of the immense joy when the wayward son returns home to the father, symbolizing God’s celebration over a humble sinner coming to repentance (Luke 15:11-32).
Jesus directly declared that He came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Regarding His authority to forgive sins, Jesus unmistakably stated, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”-He said to the paralytic-“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” (Mark 2:10-11). Here Jesus associated Himself with the divine Messianic figure Son of Man from Daniel’s vision who would have an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14).
As the promised Messiah and very Son of God (Mark 14:61-62), Jesus had supreme authority to forgive sins on earth with a single word or touch.
Jesus demonstrated His authority to forgive sins in miraculous ways, such as healing the paralytic who was lowered through the roof (Luke 5:17-26).
When Jesus forgave the paralyzed man’s sins, the Pharisees accused Him of blasphemy for claiming an authority that belonged to God alone. But Jesus proved His authority by healing the man’s physical paralysis. Numerous people approached Jesus begging for healing and repentance, crying out “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:35-43).
Jesus had compassion and restored them physically and spiritually. He even forgave the sins of the adulteress who was about to be stoned (John 8:1-11) and the criminal who hung on the cross next to Him (Luke 23:39-43), directly promising them paradise.
Despite criticism for fellowshipping with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus said Himself that He came specifically to call sinners to repentance as the Great Physician (Luke 5:31-32).
Jesus’ ultimate act of salvation was giving His life on the cross to make atonement for sin.
John the Baptist declared Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), pointing to how Jesus’ death would be the atoning sacrifice that takes away sins.
The apostle Paul explains that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Jesus willingly laid down His life to pay the penalty for sin that humankind could not pay on their own.
As Jesus declared, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
In addition to being the sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus serves as our great High Priest who made purification for sins and sat down at the right hand of God’s throne (Hebrews 1:3).
The role of a high priest was to make atonement and intercession on behalf of the people once a year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16).
As the perfect High Priest, Jesus did not have to continually offer sacrifices like the earthly high priests.
Jesus as the High Priest Made the Ultimate Sacrifice for Sins
He offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice once for all to take away sins (Hebrews 7:27). His blood sprinkled on the heavenly mercy seat purifies us from an evil conscience (Hebrews 9:11-14).
Jesus’ high priestly ministry guarantees us confident access to God’s grace and mercy in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
The name Jesus is linked to His saving work throughout the book of Acts as the early church proclaimed salvation in His name.
Peter boldly declared to the religious leaders, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The healing of a lame man at the temple gate occasioned Peter to preach salvation through Jesus (Acts 3:1-4:12). Philip the evangelist traveled to Samaria and “proclaimed to them the Christ” and many were saved as a result (Acts 8:5-8).
The conversion of Saul, who became the apostle Paul, involved him calling on the name of the Lord, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” (Acts 9:14, 17). Salvation through Jesus was at the heart of apostolic preaching.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul explains how salvation comes to those who call upon the name of Jesus: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10).
Salvation comes when a person repents of their sins and puts their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Those who call upon His name and believe in Him receive forgiveness and new life.
When the disciples preached the gospel after Jesus’ ascension, they performed signs and wonders in the name of Jesus, demonstrating that salvation comes through His name (Acts 4:30).
Peter healed Aeneas by saying, “Jesus Christ heals you” (Acts 9:34). Significantly, baptism was administered in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). The power of the name of Jesus is directly linked to the salvation He provides.
Healing and Deliverance through the Name of Jesus in Acts
The book of Acts records numerous instances where the apostles healed people and cast out demons specifically through invoking the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 3:6, 16:18).
God performed these wonders as a testimony that salvation is found in no other name (Acts 4:10).
At Pentecost, Peter urged the people to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38).
The healing of the lame beggar and the exorcism of evil spirits caused many people to put their faith in Jesus’ name (Acts 3:16, 19:13-17).
Just as Peter had declared, calling upon the name of Jesus brought immediate power, deliverance, and salvation.
The Name Above All Names
The very name Jesus given by the angel refers to His supreme purpose—to save people from their sins.
This mission is evident throughout Jesus’ life, death on the cross, and ongoing ministry through the church. Jesus’ name is more than just a name—it represents the embodiment of God’s salvation delivered through the Messiah.
Calling on the name of Jesus in faith is what brings forgiveness, redemption, and new life.
The profound truth that Jesus saves people from sins is encapsulated in His personal name. As Peter declared, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
His name says it all.
The profound truth that Jesus came to save people from their sins is powerfully encapsulated in His very name.
When people called upon the name of Jesus for salvation in the New Testament, they appropriated His identity as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The name of Jesus represents His divine nature as Savior, His sacrificial death for atonement, and the deliverance of all who call upon Him in faith.
As Peter declared, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
