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2C. The Names for God and Jesus 
God's name was never spoken by a strict Jew because it was considered too holy. They wrote down only the consonants "J H V H" or "Y H W H" but forgot with time what were the vowels between them. This was initially believed to be "Jehovah" although the more accurate modern rendition of God's name is "Yahweh."
God's Name was Rarely Spoken
When God gave the people his name, they were blessed. This blessing also brought a warning against dishonoring it. "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name"(20). Jesus as the good shepherd calls his sheep individually and personally by name. "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out"(21). Christians in the Mystical Body receive a special blessing in that they have a name given by God himself.
The Associated Press carried a story from England about a couple who gave their daughter 139 names beginning Tracy, Mariclaire, Lisa, Tammy, Samantha, Christine, Alexandra and so on. A local paper carried the story under the heading, "What's in a name? Don't ask this girl!" Her father said, "We just wanted to give her something for when she grows up." Her parents were not thinking about the meaning of her names.
What Jesus' Name Means
The prophet Isaiah called the coming messiah by the name "Immanuel" or "God with us." The angel appearing to Joseph said, "you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." "Jesus," from the Hebrew word "Joshua," means "he will save his people"(22). Even before his birth, Jesus was known as "Saviour" and "God with us." Another of his names is "Christ" in Greek, or "Messiah" in Hebrew. Both denote "Anointed One."
THE NAME JESUS WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE
John Newton before his conversion was a drunken sailor. Later he became a slave ship captain. On one occasion, he spotted a British warship on the horizon and to save himself hurriedly threw his cargo of screaming chained slaves overboard to a watery death. Later, he came to know Jesus as his Saviour and to receive forgiveness for this terrible deed. He mourned that he had used the name of Jesus as a curse and had not respected Jesus' beautiful name more. He wrote the immortal hymn "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds."
God Knows Everyone's Name.
God is aware of everyone's name. Even the hairs of our head are numbered carefully by him. He cares this much for us personally, and individually. If God knows us, we can know him too for God came to earth to show us what he is like! We know his name as Jesus. We know him personally when he dwells in our hearts, and works in our lives. Do you know his name?
IF GOD KNOWS YOUR NAME DO YOU KNOW HIS?
As Jesus was God incarnate, so the Christian is to be Jesus incarnate. Christ's Body continues Jesus' life and work today. Jesus indwells the individual with himself and transforms men, women and children into Christ's personal body.
Questions for Discussion
1. Why was Jesus' name important to him?
Notes
(20)Exodus 20.7. (21)John 10.3. (22)Matthew 1.21.
"We are living members of his mystical body"
