My husband and I have two boys, both of which are hilarious, outgoing, and fiercely independent. However, their names do not reflect this. In fact, their names have no particular backstory that makes the name sentimental to our family. These were simply the only names my husband and I could agree on, which I have come to realize is a pretty common thing. There were particular words and versers the Lord brought to my mind and heart to pray over them while I was pregnant with each of them though, and these particular characteristics are spot on with their personalities, and are evident even now, despite how young they are. It has been an incredible experience to watch these characteristics be revealed, something I had prayed over each of them slowly being revealed in who they already are and who they are becoming.

Unlike our almost random name selection, there is something uniquely powerful in the idea that out of all the names the God could have selected for the Messiah, He chose to instruct Mary to name her child Jesus, meaning “Savior”. This was very clearly intentional, part of God’s plan for the redemption of the world from the very beginning. Because Jesus is one name of the living God, I can know a variety of things about who He is.

Jesus is the Name above every name (Philippians 2:9). Because His name means Savior I know that He is a personal God, longing to be involved and engaged in my life because He loves me, and pursues every heart that He created.

I know that He saved me. I know that He is saving me, daily.

I know that no matter where I am in life or in my faith or in my failure, He is both near to me and has the complete ability to rescue me. I know that because my beloved’s name is Jesus, there is hope for me and for the world. Because of Jesus, I know that this is not the end. Because His name is Jesus, I can experience first and the freedom from sin and bondage.

Just like my little ones are beginning to reflect the people that God made them to be, the name Jesus reflects who God made Christ to be for us. He named His one and only Son, Jesus, so that through Him we could be saved and given the gift of eternal life.

My prayer is that anyone who is interested in knowing Jesus and wants to experience the salvation that His name offers would begin to seek out someone that knows Him to help you begin your journey of freedom. If you do know Him, we’d love to hear what the name Jesus means to you! Share with us in the comment section of the blog and thank you for studying the names of God with us this summer! It’s been a privilege to study the Word with you all.

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

Be blessed,

Rachel