Finding Yeshua (Jesus) in the Names of God

In Jewish culture, names are not chosen randomly or on a whim like my name William ויליאם.

A person’s name is believed to affect their entire spiritual identity and even their destiny. 

Scripture seems to enforce this idea; for instance, the Messiah was named Yeshua (Jesus).  That name means salvation, and Matthew 1:21 confirms that it reflects His destiny.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Yeshua, because He will save His people from their sins.”  (Matthew 1:21)

Since Yeshua is one with the Father (John 10:30, 14:7; Matthew 11:27), we can expect to find His character revealed in the names of the Father.

“My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets.”  (Malachi 1:11)

Variations of the Hebrew name Yeshua (Jesus)

 

Variations of the Hebrew name Yeshua (Jesus).  The top two are pronounced Yehoshua, and the bottom one is a contraction that is pronounced Yeshua.  This spelling and pronunciation were typical in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. Now some have said the bottom one is just Joshua however here is Joshua in Hebrew: יהושע

So you can see יהושע and ישוע is not the same in Hebrew!

Discovering the Character of Messiah in the Names of the Father

“So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel…”  (Ezekiel 39:7)

Father God has, in His mercy, chosen to reveal His Divine character and nature to His people through His Holy name. 

All of the names we will look at here are compound and begin with the Four Letters of God’s personal, holy name:  YHWH.

“I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai (God Almighty), but by My name YHWH יְהֹוָה, I did not make myself known to them.”  (Exodus 6:3)

This four-letter name of God is derived from the Hebrew verb hayah meaning to be.  God seems to explain this to Moses when He said,  “I Am who I Am [ehyeh aser ehyeh]’”

Most Christian Bibles write LORD in place of YHWH.  And in the Jewish tradition, the Hebrew word Adonai is said when reading Scripture aloud.

Let’s now take a look at Father God and Messiah Yeshua in the names:  YHWH El Elyon (Most High), YHWH Nissi (Banner), and YHWH Roi (My Shepherd).

 

The holy name of God, YHWH, was spoken by the High Priest on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).  When the Jewish People read Scripture aloud, however, they substitute Adonai (Lord).

1) The LORD Most High God: YHWH El Elyon (יְהֹוָה אֵ֣ל עֶלְי֔וֹן)  

“For You, O Lord [YHWH], are Most High [Elyon] over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.”  (Psalm 97:9, see Genesis 14:22)

The name Adonai El Elyon (The Lord Most High God) reveals the superiority and supremacy of God.

The Hebrew word Elyon, meaning Most High, Uppermost, Lofty, or the Supreme, is derived from the Hebrew root A-L-H, meaning to go up or ascend.

The implication is that God is high and above any and all created things.  This includes the false gods that arise from the imaginations of humankind and all demonic powers.

In fact, when God poured out His fury upon Egypt in the form of the ten plagues, He proved Himself to be Elyon — higher than any false Egyptian deity (Exodus 12:12).

 

The Plague of Flies depicts the fourth plague and the supremacy of YHWH over the Egyptian god Khepri, who had the head of a fly, can you imagine having the head of a fly, tiny brain, and drinking poop and they made that a god?

The name El Elyon reveals that God is the absolute Highest Supremacy.  He is the Extremely-Exalted, High God who is far superior to anyone or anything.

For this reason, we should both fear Him revere Him and trust Him.

“I cry out to God Most High [Elohim Elyon], to God [El], who fulfills [His purpose] for me.”  (Psalm 57:2; see also Psalm 7:17)

“How awesome is the LORD Most High [YHWH Elyon], the great King over all the earth!”  (Psalm 47:2)

The Brit Chadashah (New Covenant) connects this idea of supremacy with Yeshua (Jesus).  God has made Him above all (Elyon) by placing all things under His feet.

“And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the community of Believers.” (Ephesians 1:22)

 

2) The Lord My Banner: YHWH Nissi (יְהוָה נִסִּי) 

“Moses built an altar and called it The LORD [YHWH] is my Banner [Nissi].”  (Exodus 17:15)

The Lord My Banner or Adonai Nissi (YHWH Nissi) is the name Moses called the altar that he built when he rejoiced over Israel’s victory over the Amalekites.

To understand this name, consider that today, military units and even marching bands often rally behind the one carrying the flag that identifies the group.  That person is known as the standard-bearer.

So, too, Moses rallied behind the Lord, his Standard-Bearer, and He led the way to victory.

Yet, the banner is not an adequate term to describe our Lord.

The word Nissi could be derived from nes (miracle, banner, sign); nasa (lifted up), or nus (flee for refuge).

So, in addition to being our Leader, YHWH Nissi could also mean that God is our Miracle, our Exalted One, our Refuge.

 

The Prophet Isaiah refers to the Messiah as a banner (nes) in two of his End-Time Messianic Prophecies.

“In that day the Root of Jesse [Messiah] will stand as a banner [nes] for the peoples; the nations [Goyim] will rally to him, and His place of rest will be glorious.”  (Isaiah 11:10)

Also in Isaiah 49, he uses the word nissi in connection with the end-time restoration of Israel.

“See, I will beckon to the Gentiles [Goyim], I will lift up my banner [nissi] to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.”  (Isaiah 49:22)

Messiah Yeshua has been sent to the nations, and because of their great love for Him, Gentiles are helping to restore the Jewish People to the land of Israel, just as Isaiah prophesied.

 

God’s “banner over us” symbolizes His presence, provision, redemptive power, and love.

We no longer need to be out there on our own, gaining victory through our own might and devices.  He is our rallying point and our Banner, and we can confidently look to Him and to Messiah Yeshua for direction and help.

“He has taken me to the banquet hall, and His banner [dagal] over me is love [ahava].”  (Song of Solomon 2:4)

He demonstrates to us His love as a Shepherd does for His sheep.

 

“‘I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,’ declares the Lord GOD.”
(Ezekiel 34:15)

3) The Lord My Shepherd: YHWH Ro’i (יְהוָה רֹעִי)

One of the best known and beloved of the psalms of David begins with these comforting words you might even have it memorized:

“The Lord is my Shepherd [YHWH Roi], I shall not be in want.”  (Psalm 23:1)

This psalm is traditionally read at many Jewish and gentile funeral services because it refers to God walking with us as a good shepherd, through the valley of the shadow of death.

The realization that we have a faithful Shepherd to guide and protect us, and that we are not wandering lost and alone in this world, alleviates fear and loneliness, and establishes the safety, purpose, and direction that we can find in Him.

Yeshua (Jesus) also called Himself the Good Shepherd, saying that He would even give His life for His sheep.

“I am the Good Shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”  (John 10:11)

 

David, the shepherd who became a shepherd king to the people of Israel remained a humble lamb in the face of YHWH Roi, Adonai my Shepherd.

While YHWH Roi is our Shepherd, He has appointed a Shepherd of His own to rule and reign over His creation on His behalf.

The Hebrew Prophet Ezekiel confirmed that the Messiah, a descendant of King David, would come and, like David, rule Israel as a Shepherd King.

“My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd.” (Ezekiel 37:24; see also Isaiah 40:11, Micah 5:4)

The Hebrew prophets also foretold, however, that the Shepherd would be struck down, and would give His life as an offering for sin as the Lamb of God (Isaiah 53:4–5).

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me! declares the LORD Almighty.  Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered….”  (Zechariah 13:7; see Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:27, John 16:32)

The Book of Revelation ties these three aspects of the Messiah—the Lamb, the King, and the Shepherd—to Yeshua and His soon return as the Shepherd King of Israel.

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  (Revelation 7:17)

So now you also know the people that use the word Jehovah are not interpreting that word from the Hebrew Bible or the Tanakh it is always LORD or Adonai.

Although the Jewish People know God as El Elyon (The Most High God), many do not know that all things are under Yeshua’s feet.

And although they know that God is their Banner, they do not know that Yeshua is the prophesied Root of Jesse who will stand as a Banner to the peoples.

Israel also knows that the Lord is their Shepherd, but many do not yet realize that Yeshua is their Shepherd King who laid down His life for them and will soon return to completely fulfill every Messianic prophecy.

As for the world, so few know that the God of Israel is the one true God and that He loves them and is reaching out to meet their needs and save them.

 

We need your help in bringing the Good News of Yeshua to Israel and the nations through articles like this!

“Let them know that You, whose name is the LORD [YHWH]—that You alone are the Most High [Elyon] over all the earth.”  (Psalm 83:18)

“Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.”  (Exodus 35:21)

 

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Discover how Jesus our Brother fulfilled the ancient Law of Kinsman Redeemer

Another fulfilled promise?

We so often refer to Yeshua as our Messiah, Saviour, and Lord that we forget He is also our Brother!

The Apostle Paul writes to his Jewish brethren: “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy, are of the same family. So Yeshua is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” (Hebrews 2:11)

As our Brother, Yeshua fulfilled the ancient role of Kinsman Redeemer, as instructed by God in His Torah (Instructions).

In Hebrew, the term for a redeemer as well as kinsman redeemer is goel – גֹאֵ֖ל, from the verb, gaal, which means to redeem or to be a kinsman redeemer. It can also mean in Scripture to avenge.

What does a kinsman redeemer do and how has Yeshua become that for each of us?

What Does a Kinsman Redeemer Do?

 

“That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman redeemers.” (Ruth 2:20)

From very early on, God anticipated that there would always be poor and needy people in Israel. So, He made special rules of mercy for such situations.

While any landowners who needed money could sell their land, a person without assets could sell themselves as bond-servants for six years. If they wanted to, they could even become a servant for life.

Another option to get out of poverty was to enact the laws of the kinsman redeemer that are detailed in Leviticus 25.

One role of the nearest kinsman or relative was to buy back or redeem the land sold by a relative in a time of need (Leviticus 25:23–28).

To “buy back” is the definition of redemption.

A kinsman redeemer could even buy back the relative and redeem them out of their contractual agreement as a servant (Leviticus 25:47–49).

A most-significant role of the kinsman redeemer was to provide an heir for a brother who had died, by marrying the wife of his deceased brother and conceiving a child with her (Deuteronomy 25:5–10).

The Apostle James shared how God has a burden in His heart for widows and orphans when he wrote this:

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

The best illustration of the kinsman redeemer in the life of a widow and as a type of Yeshua our Redeemer is found in the Book of Ruth.

 

The Widow Ruth and Her Kinsman Redeemer, Boaz

Ruth had been married to an Israelite man who died. Her mother-in-law, Naomi was also a widow.

Though a foreigner from a despised and cursed nation, Moab, (Deuteronomy 23:3), Ruth decided to make the God of Israel her God and go with her elderly mother-in-law Naomi to her hometown of Bethlehem.

Boaz, a man of great wealth, took respectful notice of Ruth and began to use his position to help her.

Bo’az, meaning strength, had been told about Ruth’s personal sacrifice in leaving her homeland and care for her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi. (Ruth 2:11)

He also saw how Ruth diligently worked, even in the scorching heat, as she gathered grain from the field that Boaz set aside for the poor and needy.

Acknowledging her industriousness and kindness, Boaz blessed Ruth with this promise: “I have ordered the young men not to touch you. And when you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled.” (Ruth 2:9)

Seeing the favour that Boaz showed Ruth, her mother-in-law Naomi remembered that he was actually one of her relatives.

Knowing the Torah and God’s rules of mercy, she advised Ruth to offer Boaz a marriage proposal.

Naomi wasn’t just matchmaking, as some imagine. No, this elderly, broken woman knew that a kinsman redeemer was literally their best hope for a better life as well as for an heir.

Boldly, Ruth obeyed Naomi:

“‘I am your servant Ruth,’ she said to Boaz. ‘Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman redeemer of our family.’” (Ruth 3:9)

Ruth’s request invokes images of a modern tallit, or prayer shawl, that has come to represent the wings of the God of Israel protecting and gathering His children to Himself.

Even God uses this beautiful imagery to describe how He entered into His own covenant with Israel:

“‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of My garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you My solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you,’ declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘and you became Mine.’” (Ezekiel 16:8)

Boaz again blessed Ruth with great favour by replying to his bride-to-be, “May you be richly rewarded by the LORD (YHVH), the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:12).

By fulfilling his Biblical obligation under God to marry Ruth and provide her with an heir, Ruth and Boaz became the great-grandparents to King David, and much later, the Son of God Himself — the Messiah.

Boaz gave us a glimpse into the loving care that Yeshua has given us as our own kinsman redeemer.

YHVH, the Kinsman Redeemer of Israel

“I will redeem [gaal] you with an outstretched arm.” (Exodus 6:6)

God’s method of redeeming Israel out of bondage in Egypt involved sacrificing lambs and placing their blood on the doorposts of homes.

This served as a kind of covering that saved the firstborn Israelite sons as the Angel of Death “passed over” their homes (Exodus 12:13,23,27).

Soon after this first Passover, God (YHVH) instituted the sacrificial system of the Tabernacle where the blood of lambs and goats served only as a temporary covering for the sins of Israel — not as redemption.

 

The sacrifices never fully bought back the people out of the consequences of their sin, which was death, as God tells us through the Prophet Ezekiel.

“Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4; also Romans 6:23)

A time came, however, when God decided to take the final and permanent sacrificial initiative Himself:

“He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no one to intercede; then His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness upheld Him. … A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 59:16, 20)

That Redeemer is our Messiah, our Kinsman, our Brother, Yeshua.

Yeshua, Our Kinsman Redeemer

When Boaz stepped into his role as kinsman redeemer, he said, “Ruth have I purchased to be my wife.” (Ruth 4:10)

Likewise, Yeshua paid the price for us and by doing so, made us heirs in the family of God.

We were poor and destitute in our sin, but Yeshua has made us rich in His Spirit.

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Messiah.” (Romans 8:16-17)

When Yeshua celebrated His last Passover dinner with His talmidim (disciples), He raised a cup of wine after the meal.

Throughout Jerusalem that night, the Jewish People raised their cups of wine in remembrance of their redemption from Egypt through the blood of the Passover lamb.

Yeshua is now telling His talmidim to raise their cups in remembrance of their redemption from sin through Him.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed … but with the precious blood of Messiah, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18)

 

Every part Jesus had to endure in His last days fulfilled everything the Torah demanded! By His stripes, we were healed. The wounds on His hands and feet paid for our sins that were nailed to the Cross forever. His wound on His side that water and blood spilled was for our coverage and to pay for our death penalty, that really we did deserve.

 

Jesus (Yeshua) is the only one who has the power to spread His wings over the Gentile nations and His beloved brethren of Israel to redeem them. So, as you see, He is not only our Messiah, Saviour, and Lord, but also our Brother, and Yeshua fulfilled the ancient role of Kinsman Redeemer with His love for us!

 

Today in Jewish weddings, the tallit is spread over the couple like a canopy (chuppah). It can also be wrapped around the bride and groom, representing a spiritual covering.

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God’s Plan of Salvation

We all fall short of God’s perfect righteousness

So we can’t be on the fence on this one.

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life.

This passage tells us that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son, Jesus Christ. In other words, the way to possess eternal life is to possess God’s Son. The question is, how can a person have the Son of God?

Man’s Problem is Separation From God

Isaiah 59:2 But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

According to Romans 5:8, God demonstrated His love for us through the death of His Son. Why did Christ have to die for us? Because Scripture declares all men to be sinful. To “sin” means to miss the mark. The Bible declares “all have sinned and fall short of the glory (the perfect holiness) of God” (Rom. 3:23). In other words, our sin separates us from God who is perfect holiness (righteousness and justice) and God must, therefore, judge the sinful man.

Habakkuk 1:13a You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing.

The Futility of Our Works

Scripture also teaches that no amount of human goodness, human works, human morality, or religious activity can gain acceptance with God or get anyone into heaven. The moral man, the religious man, and the immoral and non-religious are all in the same boat. They all fall short of God’s perfect righteousness. After discussing the immoral man, the moral man, and the religious man in Romans 1:18-3:8, the Apostle Paul declares that both Jews and Greeks are under sin, that “there is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom. 3:9-10). Added to this are the declarations of the following verses of Scripture:

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not of works so that no one can boast.

Titus 3:5-7 he saved us, not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.

Romans 4:1-5 What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter? 2 For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about (but not before God). 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.

No amount of human goodness is as good as God. God is perfect righteousness. Because of this, Habakkuk 1:13 tells us God cannot have fellowship with anyone who does not have perfect righteousness. In order to be accepted by God, we must be as good as God is. Before God, we all stand naked, helpless, and hopeless in ourselves. No amount of good living will get us to heaven or give us eternal life. What then is the solution?

God’s Solution

God is not only perfect holiness (whose holy character we can never attain to on our own or by our works of righteousness) but He is also perfect love and full of grace and mercy. Because of His love and grace, He has not left us without hope and a solution.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This is the good news of the Bible, the message of the gospel. It’s the message of the gift of God’s own Son who became man (the God-man), lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sin and was raised from the grave proving both the fact He is God’s Son and the value of His death for us as our substitute.

Romans 1:4 who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 4:25 He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made the one who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 3:18 Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.

How Do We Receive God’s Son?

Because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross, the Bible states “He that has the Son has life.” We can receive the Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior by personal faith, by trusting in the person of Christ and His death for our sins.

John 1:12 But to all who have received him–those who believe in his name–he has given the right to become God’s children

John 3:16-18 For this is the way God loved the world: he gave his one and only Son that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 The one who believes in Him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

God’s Plan of Salvation

This means we must each come to God the same way: (1) as a sinner who recognizes his sinfulness, (2) realizes no human works can result in salvation, and (3) relies totally on Christ alone by faith alone for our salvation.

If you would like to receive and trust Christ as your personal Savior, you may want to express your faith in Christ by a simple prayer acknowledging your sinfulness, accepting His forgiveness and putting your faith in Christ for your salvation.

Prayer for Salvation

If you have just trusted in Christ, you need to learn about your new life and how to walk with the Lord. May we suggest you start by studying through the About section for Christian Growth available here online at whatshotnblog.wordpress.com. This series will take you step-by-step through some basic truths of God’s Word and will help you build a solid foundation for your faith in Christ.

 

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Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead; that He was eternally one with the Father; that He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary, so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say the Godhead and manhood, are thus united in one Person, very God and very man, the God-man. We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that He truly arose from the dead and took again His body, together with all things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith He ascended into heaven and is there engaged in intercession for us.

Once again, this Article is one that few people visiting our church would find a place of disagreement. However, I want to take a closer look at it so that, if someone were to ask you specific questions about Jesus Christ, you would be able to point them to specific scriptures that give evidence to His divinity and His nature and can show them why we believe what we believe.

I am reminded of a conversation that I once had with a person, that happened to be Jewish. It was during the Christmas season. The man, said “what is the big deal about Jesus. It’s not like He was God or something, also the Cross happens to be an idol!”

You see, there are people in and around all of us that, for one reason or another, have chosen not to take a closer look into the life and person of Jesus Christ. They have likely heard something about Him, but have never truly understood the Gospel’s message.

Chapter 5: Jesus Christ

JESUS CHRIST

“Yes, of course I believe in Jesus Christ,” said my new friend. “He was a great prophet, a man sent from God who gave us many teachings that we should follow.”
“That’s wonderful.” I replied, “but it’s not enough. You must not only believe that he was a great prophet, but that He is God. You must know Him as divine, as a Savior.”

This was difficult for my friend to accept. He had learned some things about Jesus but had never established communion with Him through reading His Word or through prayer. It was hard for him to believe that all men are sinners (as we studied in Lesson 4), or that there is an escape from sin.

He asked me many questions that day. Who is Jesus? How can He be human and divine at the same time? If He died, why do Christians say He is living? What is He doing now?

The best answers that I could find were in the Bible, the Word of God. In this lesson we will look at those same questions and find the answers that my friend wanted to know.

In this lesson you will study …

His Person
His Purpose
His Return

This lesson will help you explain who Jesus is and understand the purpose of His first coming and His future return.

HIS PERSON

Objective 1. Recognize biblical descriptions of Jesus.

Jesus Christ is the visible manifestation of God to man. He chose to become like men so that we would be able to understand Him better and learn His plan of salvation for us. This choosing to become like a man meant that Jesus would have two natures in One Person, both human and divine. Romans 1:3-4 says:

It is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: as to his humanity, he was born a descendant of David; as to his divine holiness, he was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death.

To have a human nature, Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary.

The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1:30-33).

The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father’s only Son (John 1:14).

Who is this Father mentioned in John 1:14? God is the Father of Jesus. Second Peter 1:17 tells us,

He was given honor and glory by God the Father, when the voice came to him from the Supreme Glory, saying, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am well pleased!”

The name “Jesus Christ” also tells us of His divinity. When the angel said that the baby’s name would be Jesus, it was for a very special reason. Jesus (יְשׁוּעָה Yeshua) means Savior. Matthew 1:21 says, “She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus-because he will save his people from their sins.”

The name Christ has a special meaning too (המשיח Ha’Mashiach). It means “the anointed one” or “the Messiah.” Many years ago when a man was chosen to be king, oil was poured over his head as part of the ceremony. This pouring on of oil was called “anointing.” To call the Lord “Christ” or “the anointed one” meant that He was royalty. Messiah was the name the Jews gave to the king and deliverer for whom they waited. Simon Peter recognized Him as king and said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

HIS PURPOSE

Objective 2. Identify statements showing why Jesus died on the cross and what He is doing today.

Jesus came into the world to save man from sin. Luke 19:10 says, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” There was only one way He could save us-by giving His life. “The Son of man … did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people” (Mark 10:45).

Redeem means to set free, rescue, save, or deliver. This is a wonderful promise to all mankind. But why did Jesus have to die to redeem us? If we remember the story of Adam and Eve, we will recall that God had told them that sin is followed by death. God cannot go against His own judgment against sin. If there is sin, someone has to die. So Jesus Christ came to die in the sinner’s place. No one else could do it because He was the only one who could conquer death.

Yet it was not easy-even for our Lord. He, Who had been sitting on His throne with angels to carry out every command, Who created heavens and earth and man, became a servant. He permitted His creation to hurt Him, despise Him, and crucify Him on the cross of Calvary that they might be saved. In I Peter 1:18-19 we read:

You know what was paid to set you free … It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw.

Are all men now saved since Jesus died for them? No, God never took away the privilege of choice. Each man still has to make his own decision. He has to accept Jesus as his personal Savior. Jesus said to His followers:

Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all mankind. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:15-16).

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. Whoever believes in the Son is not judged; but whoever does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in God’s only Son (John 3:16-18).

Jesus died for us. There would have been no hope of salvation for man, however, if He had remained in the grave.

Many religions have built shrines at the tombs of their leaders. Inside are the revered bones of their dead. But the tomb of Jesus is empty because of the miracle that took place three days after His crucifixion. Jesus rose from the dead and was seen many times after his resurrection.

That he was buried and that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures; that he appeared to Peter and then to all twelve apostles. Then he appeared to more than five hundred of his followers at once, most of whom are still alive, although some have died. Then he appeared to James, and afterward to all the apostles (I Corinthians 15:4-7).

Jesus’ resurrection is one evidence that points to His being the Son of God. Romans 1:4 says, “He (Jesus Christ) was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death.”

After he showed Himself to many people and spoke words of encouragement to them, he ascended into heaven. This, also, was no secret because he ascended while His disciples were watching.

Then he led them out of the city as far as Bethany, where he raised his hands and blessed them. As he was blessing them, he departed from them and was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:50-51).

What is Jesus doing now? When He ascended He took His rightful place at the right hand of His Father. He talks to His Father about our needs. Let’s look at three verses that tell what He is doing now.

“We have such a High Priest, who sits at the right of the throne of the Divine Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 8:1).

“If anyone does sin, we have someone who pleads with the Father on our behalf-Jesus Christ, the righteous one” (I John 2:1).

“And so he is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to plead with God for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

How wonderful that the costly price has been paid for our redemption! After dying on the cross, rising from the grave, and ascending to be with His Father, He does not forget us. He is interested in us every day and wants to help us whenever we will allow Him to do so.

HIS RETURN

Objective 3. State at least five events that will take place at the time of Jesus’ return.

Jesus Christ will come back to earth again. No one knows the exact time of His Second Coming but many today feel it is near. While there is a lack of clarity on just when He will return, the great hope of Christians is that He would “come quickly.” The Greek word often used in the New Testament for “come quickly” is “maranatha.”

Believers look forward to Jesus’ Second Coming because it will be a time when we will be with Him and receive our eternal rewards. Acts 1:11 says, “This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven:” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 also states:

There will be the shout of command, the archangel’s voice, the sound of God’s trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first; then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

We will learn more about Jesus’ Second Coming and other future events when we study lesson 10.

Quiz Instructions

Test your knowledge by taking this short quiz which covers what you just read on this topic and some Bible verses. Click on the correct answer(s). Good luck.

1. Read Philippians 2:7. Then select one description that best matches this Scripture’s description of Jesus.

a) God is His Father.

b) He was born of a woman.

c) He is the Savior.

d) He became like us.

e) He is divine and has the nature of God.

2. Read John 10:17. Then select one description that best matches this Scripture’s description of Jesus.

a) God is His Father.

b) He was born of a woman.

c) He is the Savior.

d) He became like us.

e) He is divine and has the nature of God.

3. Read Philippians 2:6. Then select one description that best matches this Scripture’s description of Jesus.

a) God is His Father

b) He was born of a woman

c) He is the Savior

d) He became like us

e) He is divine and has the nature of God

4. Read Galatians 4:4. Then select one description that best matches this Scripture’s description of Jesus.

a) He was born of a woman

b) God is his Father

c) He is divine and has the nature of God

d) He is the Savior

e) He became like us

5. Read Acts 4:12. Then select one description that best matches this Scripture’s description of Jesus.

a) He became like us

b) He is the Savior

c) He was born of a woman

d) He is divine and has the nature of God

e) God is His Father

6. Check each TRUE completion for the following statement. Jesus Christ died on the cross to…

a) redeem us.

b) take our place in the death we deserve.

c) provide salvation for everyone who believes in Him as Savior.

d) to give us eternal life.

7. Read Luke 24:46-47. Verse 46 tells us of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Verse 47 tells us why He had to die and rise again. What is the reason that verse 47 gives?

a) That only through his death could the Holy Spirit be with us.

b) Because the Devil needs to be defeated.

c) That in His name the message of redemption and forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations.

d) Because otherwise the disciples won’t really miss him.

8. Check the correct answer for the following question. According to the Scripture, what is Jesus doing now? He is

a) concerning Himself with other creations.

b) pleading with the Father about our needs.

c) deciding who will have eternal life and who will not.

9. Check the following statements that are TRUE.

a) Jesus will come back to earth again.

b) Some people know when the Second Coming will occur.

c) Before Jesus returns, everyone alive must be a Christian.

d) All those who believe Christ will go to meet Him in the air.

10. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 again. State things that will happen as Jesus gets ready to return.

a) a shout of command.

b) sound of God’s trumpet.

c) Lord comes down.

d) dead in Christ shall rise.

e) living believers shall rise.

f) we’ll meet the Lord in the air.

g) be eternally with the Lord.

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