And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for *he* shall save his people from their sins.
An angel tells Joseph what to name the child, and the name comes with a reason attached. So the name raises two questions: who is this child, and who are "his people"?
The meaning of the name
The name has a Hebrew original, and that original spells out its meaning.
Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, or Jehoshua. It means "Jehovah is salvation," or "whose salvation is Jehovah." So there is good reason for the common observation that the name Jesus means Jehovah the Saviour. If that is so, what a subject this sets before our souls to think about and to adore! A child born into the world, of lowly parentage in man's esteem — God Himself declares this child to be Jehovah the Saviour!
The name itself was common. Its meaning is not.
The meaning of the name "Jesus" is deep — "Jehovah a Saviour" — and faith takes hold of those glories as being His: JEHOVAH in person, the SAVIOUR in action. Yet the name was not uncommon among the people of Israel. It was rather one of their national names — "Joshua."
The name of humiliation and of glory
This is the name He bore through a lowly life and a public execution — and it is the same name that announces who He is.
This name is precious beyond measure to us because it is His personal, human name. It tells us of His grace and tenderness, His lowly life, His sorrow, and His death. But this name also carries divine glory with it, for it means JEHOVAH THE SAVIOUR. Yes, the very name of His humiliation, the name written in mockery on His cross, declares to us the greatness of His person and the love of His heart.
Saved from sins, not merely from enemies
The people of that day expected a Messiah who would deal with their enemies. The angel names a deeper enemy, and a greater title for the child.
But He had a title greater than any Joseph could pass on, even from David or Abraham. His own name would show it — His lowly name of Jesus, Jehovah the Saviour. Jehovah's people were His people. He would save them, not merely from their enemies, but from their sins. What a testimony to Him and for them! It is a blessing for any sinful soul to hear. And how they needed it — a people then puffed up with boundless hopes of greatness on earth in the Messiah they expected!
Who "his people" are
The angel speaks of a people God already owns.
He did not say that He would save sinners, Jew and Gentile. That is wonderfully true, and it comes fully to light as the truth unfolds. But — in perfect keeping with this first Gospel — He said He would "save His PEOPLE." The people of Israel were in view in the angel's announcement… They were Jehovah's people, chosen by God as His own possession, even though they had wandered far from Him. Their sins had separated them from Him, but He would not, He could not, abandon His rights in them. He would undertake their salvation.
How the saving is done
The name was given along with the work it describes, and that work has one foundation.
This makes it plain that the death of Christ — His finished work, which He accomplished in and through His death — is the only foundation on which He will save His people from their sins… It was written about sins in the old order, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." It is just as true now that the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, alone cleanses from all sin.
The scope of this salvation
The word "save" is broad, but it never loses one particular thought.
The word is broad, but it always carries the thought of rescue from danger. Sin lies at the root of every danger that threatens us. So the New Testament fittingly opens with salvation from sins. This salvation is not only from the penalty of sins, but from the power of sins, and even from the love of them. The gospel does not offer release from sin's penalty while leaving us free to continue under sin's power, or to enjoy sin's temporary pleasures. If it did, it would be no true salvation. It would only encourage us to continue in sin.
Summary
- Name. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua and means "Jehovah is salvation" — the name announces both who He is and what He came to do.
- Person. The name of His lowliness, mocked on His cross, is the same name that declares Him Jehovah in person, the Saviour in action.
- Work. He saves not merely from enemies but from sins — and His death is the one foundation on which that saving rests.
- People. "His people" here are Israel, Jehovah's own, whom He would not abandon — salvation for Jew and Gentile alike comes fully to light later.
- Reach. Salvation from sins covers penalty, power, and even the love of sin — anything less would not be salvation at all.