“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins..”

—Matthew 1:21—

Bernard of Clairvaux has said that the name of Jesus is honey in the mouth, melody in the ear, and joy in the heart. So inexpressibly fragrant is the name of Jesus that it imparts a delicious perfume to everything which comes in connection with it.

According to the text of Matthew 21, the angel brought a message from the Lord, and said, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus.” It is a name which, like him who bears it, has come down from heaven. Our Lord has other names of office and relationship, but this is specially and peculiarly his own personal name, given to him by his Father.

The name is the highest, brightest, and noblest of names; it is the glory of our Lord to be a Savior. To the best that was ever born of woman God has given the best name that any son of man could bear. JESUS is the most appropriate name that our Lord could receive.

The angel explains quite clearly the reason for the name of Jesus — “For he shall save his people from their sins.” “Savior” is the meaning of the name, and in Hebrew it means “the salvation of the Lord,” or “the Lord of salvation,” or “the Savior.”

The name Jesus is given to our Lord because “he saves”— not according to any temporary and earthly salvation, from sicknesses, enemies and troubles, but he saves from spiritual enemies, and especially from sins.

In addition to explaining this name, the Holy Spirit, speaking through evangelist Matthew, has also given us a synonym for the name Jesus, “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Mat 1:23  “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which is translated, “God with us.” (vv. 22-23).

The precious name chosen of God is given to him by all those who know him, and to whom his gospel is entrusted, and given heartily, zealously, and boldly. Yes, all of us call him Jesus if we know him, and we are resolved to publish his name abroad as long as we live. If he was Jesus in the cradle, what is he now that he is exalted in the heavens? As Emmanuel, God with us, his very incarnation made him Jesus, the Savior of men.

“Jesus, name all names above;
Jesus best and nearest,
Jesus, fount of perfect love, holiest, tenderest, dearest:
Jesus, source of grace completed;
Jesus holiest, sweetest,
Jesus, Savior ail divine, thine’s the name, and only thine.”

Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, was written on his cross. That is his resurrection name. That is his gospel name, the name we preach. And Jesus is his heavenly name. They sing to him there as Jesus. See how it concludes the Bible. Read the Revelation, and read its songs, and see how they worship Jesus the Lamb of God. Let us go and tell of this name; let us continually meditate upon it; let us love it now and forever.

Adapted from the C. H. Spurgeon sermon “Jesus”, September 15, 1857, From: Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Volume 24