The Many Names of Jesus

     In his days Judah will be saved
          and Israel will live in safety.
     This is the name by which he will be called:
          The LORD Our Righteous Savior.
                                        (Jeremiah 23:6)

Long before his birth, people were talking about Jesus. Prophets predicted his coming. Pharisees fretted over what he would look and act like. The Jewish people prayed for him to deliver them. Creation groaned, awaiting the reconciliation he would bring. Throughout the Bible, we are told that Jesus’ coming would mean to the world. Passages about him fill the Old and the New Testaments, giving us numerous and detailed descriptions of how God intended to use his life to save ours. What can we learn from the name Jesus that can help to awaken us to the wonder of Christmas?

Take some time to read and meditate on the following Scriptures, paying attention to the different titles used for Jesus (indicated in bold type).

     In his days Judah will be saved
          and Israel will live in safety.
     This is the name by which he will be called:
          The Lord Our Righteous Savior.
                                              (Jeremiah 23:6)

     “For my eyes have seen your salvation,
          which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
     a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
          and the glory of your people Israel.”
                                              (Luke 2:30-32)

     The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among
     us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only
     Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
                                              (John 1:14)

     [Jesus said,} “I am the good shepherd. The good
     shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
                                              (John 10:11)

     God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and
     Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and
     forgive their sins.
                                              (Acts 5:31)

     God put everything under Christ’s feet and made him
     head of everything in the church, which is his body.
     His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ, who fills
     everything in every way.
                                              (Ephesians 1:22-23 CEB)

     Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of
     faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,
     scorning its shame, and sat sown at the right hand of the
     throne of God.
                                              (Hebrews 12:2)

     For there is one God and one mediator between God and
     mankind, the man Christ Jesus.
                                              (1 Timothy 2:5)

     I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,
     the Beginning and the End.
                                               (Revelation 22:13)

Scripture calls Jesus Light, the Word, Prince. Savior, Head of the church, Pioneer and Perfecter of faith, Mediator, First, and Last. Those who were with him called him Teacher, Healer, Prophet, King of the Jews, Messiah. What do you call him?

Prayer Focus:
What name of Jesus resonates most with you? How might meditating on and claiming one of these names bring you closer to Jesus this Advent?