“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
In Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Juliet asks, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet.” Yet, often in Scripture, a name was given that testified to the only God—who He is and His wonderful works. For example, the prophet Joel (“Jehovah is God”) prophesied that the Lord is the sovereign God who will bring desolation to His people Judah, yet ultimately deliver them.
Though carried into captivity, Daniel (“God is my judge”) governed his entire life according to His faith in and knowledge of the one true God, who reveals truth and is the ultimate judge of empires, civilizations, and people. Ezekiel (“God strengthens”) who was led away into Babylon a few years after Daniel, also carried a name that would encourage the faithful remnant to strengthen themselves in the Lord.
Micah (“Who is like Jehovah”) marveled, “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy”(Mic. 7:18). Micah knew that the Lord would show mercy to His wayward people, because that is who He is. Zephaniah’s name (“Jehovah hides” or “Jehovah treasures”) demonstrates that the Lord always protects His people. Israel is His treasure (Deut. 14:2; Ps. 135:4); they are His firstborn (Ex. 4:22); He hides them under His wings (Ps. 17:8; Matt. 23:37); and even in judgment He will not cast them away (Rom. 11:1, 25-27). Instead, He will restore them (Zeph. 3:14-17).
It was Isaiah (“Salvation is of the Lord”) who prophesied that the future Messiah would be both God and man: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel…For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 7:14; 9:6).
Isaiah also prophesied that in the future, the restored remnant of Israel would proclaim that salvation is only of the Lord: “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid…’ ” (Isa. 12:2). When Mary was with Child by the Holy Spirit, the Lord told Joseph through an angelic messenger, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us’ “ (Matt. 1:21-23). The name “Immanuel” declares Him to be God. The name “Jesus” means “Jehovah is salvation” and it declares Christ to be the only Savior. The Lord Jesus is the only one who can save us (John 6:68) and His name testified that He is “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
Joined to Christ, the Lord’s heavenly people, the Church, are called to bear the name of Christ. The early Church referred to themselves as saints, beloved, and brethren, but it was outsiders who first derisively labelled them “Christians” meaning “followers of Christ” (Acts 11:26). Bearing His name may mean reproach (1 Pet. 4:14) and other forms of suffering (Matt. 10:22; 1 Pet. 2:21). May we not be ashamed, but joyfully adorn His Name by reflecting and testifying to His glory (2 Cor. 4:6; 1 Pet. 4:16). Hymnwriter Lela B. Long wrote:
Jesus is the sweetest name I know,
And He’s just the same as His lovely name,
And that’s the reason why I love Him so;
Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.