Lesson for February 18, 2026

The Names and Titles of Jesus

Lesson 7

Jesus and Christ

Jesus

The name Jesus, announced to Joseph and Mary through the angels (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31), means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” Transliterated from Hebrew and Aramaic, the name is Yeshua. This word is a combination of Ya, an abbreviation for Yahweh, the name of God (Exodus 3:14); and the verb yasha, meaning “rescue,” “deliver,” or “save.” Transliterated to English later as Jehovah.

When translated from Hebrew into Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament, the name Yeshua becomes Iēsous. In English, Iēsous becomes Jesus. Thus, Yeshua/Jesus means “Jehovah/Jesus saves” or “Jehovah/Jesus is salvation.”

The name Jesus was quite popular in first-century Judea. For this reason, Christ was often called “Jesus of Nazareth,” distinguishing Him by His childhood home, the town of Nazareth in Galilee. (Matthew 21:11; Mark 1:24; Luke 18:37; John 1:45; John 19:19; Acts 2:22) Jesus was sent by God for a particular purpose, and His personal name bears witness to that mission of salvation.

Galatians 4:4-5 says, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” God sent Jesus to save us. (John 3:17) The meaning of Jesus’ name, “Yahweh/Jehovah saves,” reveals His mission (to save and deliver) and His identity as Savior of the world. At the same time, Jesus’ name underscores His humanity. The Son of God, a reference to His deity, humbled Himself and became a man. (Philippians 2:6-8)

Jesus is the unique Person of all history. He is unique in that He is both God and a man. Jesus is the only Person in history to be born without Adam’s original sin, a sin nature, and the only Person to live a sinless life. His life, His death, and His resurrection were foretold by the prophets of God thousands of years before His birth. There are over three hundred prophecies in the Old Testament regarding Jesus. These prophecies outline in detail His birth, His life, His death, and His resurrection. Jesus fulfilled all of these prophecies and is without question Israel’s Messiah and the Savior of the world.

The name of Jesus is important because of its meaning and because of Who it represents. There is power and authority in the name of Jesus.

Salvation is in the name of Jesus alone. Acts 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” (John 14:6; 20:31; Acts 2:21; I Corinthians 6:11; I John 2:12)

Forgiveness of sins is received through the name of Jesus. Acts 10:43; 22:16, “All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

Believers were baptized in the name of Jesus. Acts 2:38, “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” Acts 22:16, Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized and wash away your sins by calling on His name.” (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:12, 15-16; 10:48; 19:5)

Healing and miracles were performed in the name of Jesus. Acts 3:16, “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him (the lame beggar) this perfect health in the presence of you all.” (Acts 3:6-8, 4:30)

Jesus taught believers to pray in His name to pray. John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 15:16; 16:23-24)

Our lives as believers are to be lived in the name of Jesus. II Thessalonians 1:12, “We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, in accordance with the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Christ

Christ is not Jesus’ last name (surname). “Christ” comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning “anointed one” or “chosen one.” This is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Mashiach, or “Messiah.” “Jesus” is Christ’s human name given to Mary by the angel Gabriel. (Luke 1:31) “Christ” is His title, signifying Jesus was sent from God to be our deliverer. (Daniel 9:25; Isaiah 32:1). “Jesus Christ” means “Jesus the Messiah” or “Jesus the Anointed One.”

In ancient Israel, when someone was given a position of authority, oil was poured on his head to signify his being set apart for God’s service. Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in such fashion. Anointing was a symbolic act to indicate God’s choosing. (I Samuel 24:6) Although the literal meaning of anointed refers to the application of oil, it can also refer to one’s consecration by God, even if literal oil is not used. (Hebrews 1:9)

There are hundreds of prophetic passages in the Old Testament that refer to the coming Messiah Who would deliver His people. (Isaiah 61:1; Daniel 9:26) Ancient Israel thought their Messiah would come with military might to deliver them from decades of captivity to earthly kings and pagan nations. But the New Testament reveals a much better deliverance provided by Jesus the Messiah, a deliverance from the penalty and power of sin. (Luke 4:18; Romans 6:23)

The Bible says Jesus was anointed with oil on two separate occasions by two different women. (Matthew 26:6-7; Luke 7:37-38) But the most significant “anointing” came by way of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 10:38) Jesus’ title of “Christ” means He is God’s Anointed One, the One who fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies, the Chosen Savior Who came to rescue mankind. (I Timothy 1:15) And He is the King of kings Who is coming back again to set up His Kingdom on earth. (Zechariah 14:9)

[Source: gotquestions.org]