The Saving Act of God

Jesus means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In this Man of Nazareth, the Salvation promised by the God of Abraham and Israel has arrived for all men.

The child carried by Mary was “begotten of the Holy Spirit.” The angel instructed Joseph to name the child ‘Jesus’, because he came to deliver his people from their sins. His name pointed to the saving act of God for humanity that was about to unfold. Ever since then, men and women have experienced the ‘Salvation of Yahweh’ through Jesus of Nazareth.

Naming this child ‘Jesus’ or “Salvation of Yahweh” does not mean he is identical to his Father, but that God has acted decisively in history and through His Son to bring salvation to humanity.

[Sun Rays - Photo by Matt Palmer (Victoria, Australia) on Unsplash]

According to the Apostle Paul, the Death and Resurrection of Jesus together form the foundation of the Apostolic Tradition, an understanding confirmed by all the Apostles. Salvation is found only through Jesus, and his resurrection is the basis and guarantee of our future resurrection from the dead:

• “For I delivered to you, first of all, that which also I received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he was raised on the third day. <…> But now, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who are asleep. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive” – (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 20-22).

• “And in no other is there salvation, for neither is there any other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved” – (Acts 4:12).

• “For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all” – (1 Timothy 2:5).

The first verse of the Gospel of Matthew identifies the child as “the Son of Abraham.” This was more than another name on a genealogical list. Not only was Jesus the biological descendant of Abraham, but he also came to fulfill the promises that God gave to the Patriarch - (Matthew 1:20-21).

Jesus is the promised “seed of Abraham” in whom all the nations of the earth are blessed, including Israel. It is no coincidence that Christ began proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom in Galilee - (Genesis 12:3, 22:18, Galatians 3:16-29):

• “Galilee of the Nations <…> The people that sat in darkness saw a great light, and to those who sat in the region and Shadow of Death. From that time, Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent! For the Kingdom of the Heavens is at hand” - (Matthew 4:16, Isaiah 9:1-3).

• “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared before the face of all peoples, a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel” – (Luke 2:30-32).

The salvation promised by God in past ages is provided in His Son, Jesus Christ. This salvation anticipated the inclusion of the Gentiles, “the nations,” from the very beginning, including the nation of Israel. The salvation provided through Jesus is for Jews and Gentiles alike:

• “For I say that Christ has been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, therefore, I will give praise unto you among the Gentiles and sing unto your name. And again, he says, Rejoice, you Gentiles with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and let all the peoples praise him. And again, Isaiah says, There will be the Root of Jesse, and he that arises to rule over the Gentiles. On him will the nations hope” – (Romans 15:8-12).

THE NAME APPOINTED BY GOD

The angel’s announcement to Joseph parallels the prediction made to Abraham about his firstborn son, which occurred when Sarah was ninety years old and beyond childbearing age, making her pregnancy miraculous. Abraham also received his son’s name through Divine appointment, for God commanded Abraham to name his son ‘Isaac’ - (Genesis 17:19).

The name ‘Jesus’ or ‘Joshua’ first appears in the Book of Exodus. Joshua’s original name was ‘Hoshea’, the Son of Nun. Moses changed it from ‘Hoshea’ to ‘Joshua’, or more literally, ‘Ye-hoshua’ - (Numbers 13:1-8, Exodus 17:9).

‘Hoshea’ means “salvation, deliverance, help.” It is from the Hebrew verb for “save, help, deliver,” and that verb is ‘yasha’. For example, “Yahweh saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians” - (Exodus 14:30. Compare Deuteronomy 20:4).

By prefixing the first syllable of the Hebrew name Yahweh to ‘Hoshea’ (YHWH {יהוה}), his name became ‘Ye-hoshua’. In several of the later books of the Hebrew Bible, the second syllable is eliminated, and the name is shortened to ‘Yeshua’ - (e.g., Nehemiah 8:17, Ezra 2:2).

The common form of the name or ‘Jesus’ is the anglicized spelling of ‘Yeshua.’ It means more than “saviour.” It combines the name of God or Yahweh with the Hebrew verb for “save,” and so, ‘Jesus’ means “Yahweh saves” or “salvation of Yahweh.” The promised salvation of God arrived in the man from the insignificant village of Nazareth, Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary.

The angel’s announcement also echoed key themes from the so-called ‘Servant’s Song’ of the Book of Isaiah. Jesus is the ‘Servant of Yahweh’ who came to redeem his people from their sins. For example:

• “Call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” – (Matthew 1:21).

• “Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him; he has put him to grief, making his soul an offering for sin. <…> By the knowledge of himself, my Righteous Servant will justify many, and he will carry their sins. <…> Because he poured out his soul unto death and was numbered with the transgressors. Yet he carried the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” - (Isaiah 53:10-12).

• “For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his soul a ransom for many” – (Mark 10:45).

Jesus is “the Son of Abraham,” the promised “seed” who fulfills and implements the Covenant promises. He is also “the Son of David,” the Messiah and King who reigns from David’s Throne over the Kingdom of God and the nations. The glorious reign of the God of Israel began with the Death, Resurrection, and Enthronement of the Nazarene:

• “Yet I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will tell of the decree: Yahweh said to me, You are my son. This day, I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession” – (Psalm 2:6-9).

Like Joshua, Jesus is the Ruler of God’s people who delivers us from bondage to Satan and shepherds us to the Promised Land, namely, the Kingdom of God. By his sacrificial death, he redeemed us from the penalty of sin, death, and God validated his act and assured us of salvation by raising Christ from the dead. In the truest sense, Jesus is the Messiah who “saves his people from their sins.”

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SEE ALSO:

• The Hope of the Nations - (The Good News of Jesus and his victory over death offers hope, life, and salvation and life to men and women of every nation)

• Jesus Saves! -  (The Good News announced by Jesus offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people)

• Mankind's only Salvation - (Jesus is the true Light of the World, the expression of God, and the only source of truth, life, and salvation)

• Le Salut de Dieu - (Jésus signifie ‘Yahvé sauve’. En cet Homme de Nazareth, le Salut promis par le Dieu d'Abraham et d'Israël est arrivé pour tous les hommes)