Read John 1:14 – 18    

Jesus

It sounds crazy but there are misguided people in the world who believe it’s wrong to refer to Jesus as “Jesus!”

“It’s not His real name” they cry. “Jesus was a Jew which means He was called Yeshua, so we must call Him Yeshua!”

Now, it’s true Jesus was a Jew and it’s also true His Jewish name was “Yeshua” but that doesn’t mean you or I are doing the wrong thing by calling Him Jesus.

The name Yeshua means “salvation” or “to save” and it comes from the older Jewish name “Yehoshua” (Joshua) which is translated as “God is salvation.” In Greek, Yeshua became “Iesous” (pronounced Ee – eh – soos). From there came our English name, Jesus.

The Dutch call Him Jezuz (Yay-zus), the Spanish Jesus (Heh-soo), while in Laos He is called Phra – Yesu (Pha – yeh – soo) and to Nepalis He is Yeshu (Yeh – shoo).

The point is whatever language you use, His name still means the same thing: salvation; and the fact that His name is translated into different languages with the same meaning reminds us that He came to bring salvation to everyone, regardless of their race, gender or social status.

The name Jesus speaks of His mission as well. He was sent by His Father for the sole purpose of becoming the Saviour of the world through His death for our sin and His resurrection from the dead.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, many Jewish parents named their sons Yeshua in the hope he might be the Messiah, the one to save his people. They hoped for a King who would save Israel from her oppressors and establish God’s Kingdom through them.

But God’s plan was different. He sent Jesus to save people from their sin.

Whatever language you speak, His name means “salvation” and He is the only Saviour of the world.