Gospels Part 040
Who was Jesus Christ? What was Jesus Christ? Was He merely a kind and gentle person who went around saying kind and gentle things and who died for our sins? Or was He much more than that?
Who and what is He now? What is He doing now? Is He sitting in heaven, passing the time until He returns to earth? Or will He even return to earth? What will He yet do in the future?
Questions like these have been discussed and argued by theologians and religious leaders for centuries. They have perplexed and puzzled millions of believers. Many more have not even tried to understand, thinking that simply accepting and believing in Jesus is all that matters.
The answers to these questions, and the real significance of Jesus Christ’s life and sacrifice, have been available to mankind all along. The answers are found in the very name of Jesus Christ.
Peter said, “There is no other name . . . by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). But what does that name mean? God attaches great significance to names. His own names are powerful testimonials to His great glory and majesty:
- God Almighty (El-Shaddai),
- God of Peace (Yahweh-Shalom)
- God Our Provider (Yahweh-Jireh), among others.
Throughout the Bible, God uses names to signify what a person or being represents (Genesis 16:11; Genesis 17:5, Genesis 17:15-16, Genesis 17:19; Genesis 35:10; 2 Samuel 12:24-25; Isaiah 8:3; Hosea 1:4, Hosea 1:6, Hosea 1:9; Luke 1:13). They tell us of the individual’s role and purpose in God’s great plan. Many times, we see God named or changed the names of individuals to reflect the purpose for which He used them.
In the same way, the name “Jesus Christ” tells us a great deal about His purpose and part in God’s great plan. It enlightens us about His character, purpose and love for humanity as well.
The Meaning of “Jesus”
What does “Jesus” mean? How did He receive that name? Did Joseph and Mary choose it because they liked the sound of it? Was it the name of a relative or family member? Why was Jesus named “Jesus”?
In Matthew 1 Mary was discovered to be pregnant during her engagement to Joseph. Joseph, not wanting to embarrass this young woman he loved, was considering how to best handle the difficult situation. "But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins'” (Matthew 1:20-21).
The New Testament was written in Greek, and the name “Jesus” here means the same in Greek as the Hebrew name “Joshua.” “Joshua” literally means God is salvation. The angel’s message to Joseph was “You shall call His name, ‘God is salvation,’ for He will save His people from their sins.” That name tells us of Jesus’ purpose in God’s plan—that it is through Him that God saves humanity.
We’ll cover this in more detail in the next lesson. Stay tuned!
© Scott Ashley, 2025. All rights reserved.
Course Content
Scott Ashley
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
