What does the name Jesus mean?

As can be seen from Hebrews 4:8, Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, or Jehoshua, which means "Jehovah is salvation," or "whose salvation is Jehovah." There is therefore good reason for the common observation that the name Jesus means Jehovah the Saviour. If so, what a subject for contemplation, and for adoration, is brought before our souls! A child born into the world, of lowly parentage in man's esteem, is declared, divinely declared, to be Jehovah the Saviour!

The meaning of the name "Jesus" is deep — "Jehovah a Saviour," and faith takes hold of those glories as being His: personally JEHOVAH — in action, the SAVIOUR. Yet the name (as we see in Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8) was not uncommon among the Jews, but rather one of their national names — "Joshua."

His name is called Jesus — Jehoshua, that is, Jehovah the Saviour, for He shall save His people — who, and whose people, in connection with the explanation of such a name? Christ is the Jehovah of the Old Testament.

But He had a title greater than any Joseph could pass on, even from David or Abraham; and this was to be declared in His name, His lowly name of Jesus, Jehovah the Saviour. "You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Jehovah's people were His people; and He would save them, not merely from their enemies, but from their sins. What a testimony to Him and for them! Blessed for any sinful soul to hear; and how especially needed by a people then swollen with boundless hopes of earthly greatness in their expected Messiah!

I do not doubt that "his people" primarily meant the Jews; but it is equally true in a broader sense that "he saves his people from their sins," and therefore the sooner you get among "his people" the better for you. I do not say, The sooner you profess to be a Christian — that would be no good to you — but, The sooner you get among "his people" the better it will be for you.

He was JEHOVAH-JIREH to Abraham, the great Provider for his greatest need; He was JEHOVAH-NISI to Moses, his banner and leader against a relentless foe; He was JEHOVAH-SHALOM to Gideon, the One to whom he looked for peace. But the New Testament opens with a greater glory. He is there JEHOVAH-SAVIOUR, for that is the meaning of His precious name.

Some think it is the mystic Name JEHOVAH; others, that it may be "My new Name" in Revelation 3:12. But from what follows, "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow," I cannot help thinking that JESUS is "the Name, the Name supreme above every name." Let us remember that the Name JESUS means JEHOVAH-the-SAVIOUR… Mr. Kelly writes: "The lowly Name that was His as Nazarene on the earth must be honoured everywhere. God's glory is concerned in it."

Though the name Jesus is recorded over 700 times in the four Gospels, not once do we read of His disciples addressing our Lord by His personal name. This is something we do well to ponder, and to admire the way these young disciples carried themselves in reverence to our Lord. We find they used other words, and rightly, in addressing the Lord, such as Lord, Master, Rabboni.