Identity Crisis - What's In A Name?

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As we have already seen, the Bible is clear about this truth: Jesus is God! Today, we'll start looking at Scriptural evidence for Jesus' divinity. Specifically, let's look at some of the different names and titles that the New Testament uses for Jesus - names and titles that clearly show Jesus' identity as the one, true God.

The Name of Jesus

Matthew 1:20-21 - But while he thought about these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

The name "Jesus" is a Greek translation of the Hebrew name Joshua. It literally means "the LORD is salvation", or "the LORD saves". Even though this name has the great name of Yahweh built into it, it is not by itself an indicator of Jesus' divinity. But if you keep these two verses in context, you see an amazing thing!

The angel told Joseph to name the boy "the LORD saves". Why? "For He will save His people from their sins." Can you see it? "Name him God-saves, because HE will save..." The soon-to-be born baby was going to be God Himself coming to save!

Emmanuel

Matthew's account goes on to give Jesus an a clearly divine title...Emmanuel.

Matthew 1:22-23 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

This is a clear statement; Jesus was (and still is) God with us. 

The Only Savior

While we're talking about beginning of Jesus' life on earth, let's move to Luke's gospel and look at another angelic declaration of Jesus' divinity.

Luke 2:11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

In the New Testament, the word "Lord" can mean a number of things.
Sometimes it carries the meaning of "sir" - as a sign of respect.
Sometimes it refers to an earthly ruler.
Other times it is referring to God Himself - as an honorary substitute for the name of Yahweh.

So what was the angel calling the newborn baby Jesus when he called Him Lord? Those who don't hold to the doctrine of Jesus' deity will claim that the angel was simply calling Him an "earthly lord". But that argument fades away when you connect this heavenly announcement with Isaiah 43:11 - "I, even I, am the LORD [Yahweh], and besides Me there is no savior."

Yahweh declared Himself to be the only Savior - and now here was one of His angels calling a baby in Bethlehem by this title. Clearly, "Christ the Lord" means much more in this passage than "earthly Ruler."

Jesus is the LORD...the only Savior.

The First and the Last

We move now from the beginning of the New Testament to the End; to Revelation 1:11.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last..."
These were words from Jesus' own mouth. When John heard them, they certainly meant more to him than they do to us today. This quote from Jesus is not the first time this title was used.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the Last, besides Me there is no God."

Jesus wasn't making up this title for Himself. He was reaching back into the pages of ancient Scriptures (that the apostle John was familiar with) and taking a title used for Yahweh Himself! Jesus was calling Himself God! And this wasn't the only time He did it either:
  • Revelation 1:17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last."
  • Revelation 2:8 These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life...
  • Revelation 21:5-7 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
    And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End..."
  • Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
Jesus is the Beginning and the End.
He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last.
He is Emmanuel, "God with us." 
He is Christ, the LORD - the One Who came to save us from our sins.
His name and His titles make this clear...Jesus is God!

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