Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Philippians 2:8-11 NASB
The name of Jesus is the most powerful ever spoken. Jesus encapsulates who Jesus is; it is not his first name. The Father was very purposeful in the name given to His only begotten Son. The name Jesus was used more than any other in the New Testament. In the Greek, Jesus means Salvation of Jehovah.
Jesus can be found in the Old Testament as well, not just simply references to the Messiah. The name Jesus is actually hidden in the Old Testament, being found about one hundred times from Genesis to Habakkuk. (Herbert Lockyer)
“Every time the Old Testament uses the word “salvation” (especially with the Hebrew suffix meaning “my”, “thy”, or “his”, with very few exceptions (when the word is used in an impersonal sense) it is identically the same word as “Yeshuah” (Jesus). This is actually what the angel said to Joseph ~ Thou shalt call His name Yeshua (salvation).”
(Arthur E. Glass)1
That I may tell of all Your praises,
that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
I may rejoice in Your salvation (Yeshua).
~ Psalm 9:14 NASB (parenthesis mine)
Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;
For the Lord God is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation. ~ Isaiah 12:2 (NASB)
Names Given In Birth
Called Christ
Prophecy:
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of joy above Your fellows.
~ Ps. 45:7 (NASB)
Fulfillment:
For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
~ Luke 2:11 (NASB)
Prophecy:
So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. ~ Daniel 9:25 (NASB)
Fulfillment:
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
~ Matthew 16:16 (NASB)
Called Lord
Prophecy:
I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
~ Ps. 2:7
Fulfillment:
For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
~ Luke 2:11 NASB
Ye call me Master and Lord… so I am. ~ John 13:13
Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. ~ 1 Peter 3:15
Called Emmanuel (Immanuel)
Prophecy:
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son,
and she will call His name Immanuel.
~ Is. 7:14 (NASB)
Then it will sweep on into Judah,
it will overflow and pass through,
It will reach even to the neck;
And the spread of its wings will fill the breadth of your land,
O Immanuel.
~ Is. 8:8 NASB
Fulfillment:
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son,
and they shall call His name Immanuel,”
which translated means, “God with us.”
~ Matthew 1:22-23 (NASB)
Governor
Prophecy:
He is governor among the nations. ~ Ps. 22:28
Their governor shall proceed from the midst of them. ~ Jeremiah 30:21
He shall be as a governor in Judah. ~ Zechariah 9:7
The government shall be on his shoulder. ~ Is. 9:6
Fulfillment:
Out of thee shall come a Governor. ~ Matt. 2:6
All dominions shall serve and obey him. ~ Dan. 7:27 with Colossians 1:16
Son
Son of Abraham
In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. ~ Genesis 12:3; 22:18
The Son of Abraham. ~ Matt. 1:1
The blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.
~ Galatians 3:14
Son of David
I have made a covenant with… David…
Thy seed will establish forever. ~ Ps. 89:3
Jesus Christ the son of David. ~ Matt 1:1
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. ~ Romans 1:3
Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Prophecy:
Who is He that… things too wonderful for me. ~ Job 42:3
Thy testimonies are wonderful. ~ Ps. 119:129
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. ~ Ps.139:6
Thou hast done wonderful things. ~ Is. 25:1
The Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel. ~ Is. 28:29
Fulfillment:
The chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did. ~ Matt. 21:15
Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God… by wonders. ~ Acts 2:22
Wonders done by the name of the holy child Jesus. ~ Acts 4:30
Counselor
Prophecy:
Who… being His counselor hath taught Him? Is. 40:13
Thy testimonies also are… my counselors. ~ Ps. 119:24
Fulfillment:
Who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. ~ Ephesians 1:11
The immutability of his counsel. ~ Hebrews 6:17
Christ… the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24
The Mighty God
Prophecy:
His name shall be called… The mighty God. ~ Is. 9:6
Great in counsel, and mighty in work. ~ Jer. 32:19
Thy name is great in might. ~ Jer. 10:6
Fulfillment:
He that cometh after me is mightier than I. ~ Matt. 3:11
His mighty works were done. ~ Matt. 11:20
All power is given unto me. ~ Matt. 28:18
In Him should all fullness dwell… The fullness of the Godhead bodily. ~ Col. 1:19; 2:9
Everlasting Father
The name of the Lord, the everlasting God. ~ Gen. 21:33
From everlasting to everlasting thou art God. ~ Ps. 90:2
I am the Lord, I change not. ~ Malachi 3:6
His name shall be called… the everlasting Father. ~ Is. 9:6
Fulfillment:
Before Abraham was, I am. ~ John 8:58
Christ abideth forever. ~ John 12:34
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Heb. 13:8
The Prince of Peace
Prophecy:
His name shall be called the Prince of Peace. ~ Is. 9:6
The mountains shall bring peace to the people. ~ Psalm 72:3
This man shall be the peace. ~ Micah 5:5
He shall speak peace unto the heathen. ~ Zech. 9:10
Fulfillment:
Born… a Saviour… on earth Peace. ~ Luke 2:11-14
In me ye might have peace. ~ John 16:33
Jesus… saith unto them, “Peace be unto you.” ~ John 20:19, 21, 26
He is our peace… He preached peace. ~ Eph. 2:14, 17
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. ~ John 14:27 NASB
This is far from an exhaustive list of the glorious names of Jesus Christ, and the prophecies foretold concerning Him. I pray this sparks a fire in you to search through the Word of God and find the Jesus Christ of the Old and New Testaments.
1Herbert Lockyer, All The Messianic Prophecies Of The Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973), 66. (Arthur Glass quoted by Lockyer)
{Editor’s note:This series of articles was originally published in Spring 2013.}