The Meaning of the Name Jesus • Deshen Daily

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21, KJV).

The name Jesus carries immense power. To grasp this power, we must deeply comprehend its profound meaning. This Devotional examines the Hebrew roots of the Name Jesus and its significance today.

Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name that means “Jehovah our Salvation.” In the Old Testament, significant figures like Joshua, Moses’ successor, bore this name. First called Hosea, he was later named Jehoshua(by Moses), meaning “Jehovah our Salvation,” later shortened to “Joshua” (Numbers 13:16).

Joshua, a high priest in the Old Testament, is another figure who held this name. He was crucial in the return from Babylon and in rebuilding the Temple.

However, we find a fuller meaning of Jesus in the angel’s message to Joseph: He is called Jesus because He saves His people from their sins. This idea, anchored in the Old Testament, finds its ultimate realization in Jesus, freeing us from sin’s grip.

Sin, portrayed as a cruel master, has trapped humanity, causing immense sorrow and pain. Consider the biblical image of Pharaoh’s enslavement of Israel, subjecting them to decades of agony and torment. In the same way, sin has corrupted us, compelling sinfulness and bringing death, suffering, guilt, disease, satanic oppression, and more. Our need goes beyond forgiveness; we long for liberation.

Jesus represents Jehovah from the Old Testament, incarnate to free us from sin. Anointed by God, He came with the sole purpose of liberating humanity from sin and its burdens (Isaiah 61:1-3). When the angels announced His birth, they radiated joy for all, declaring, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10, KJV). Thus, the Gospel of Jesus is a beacon of hope, not a call to religious duty, but an offering of freedom and joy to humanity.