January is a month that commemorates the holy name of Jesus. We may have wondered how the holy name of Jesus can have such power. Here are six things you need to know for that …
1. The Name ‘Jesus ‘- the Name Given by Heaven
Through the prophet Isaiah, God revealed, “You will be called by a new name, which the Lord will call.” The angel Gabriel asks the Holy Mother to name the unborn child ‘Jesus’. It is clear from this verse that Jesus is the name of the Lord God from heaven. Therefore the power of this name is the power of the Word of God.
2. The Name ‘Jesus’ is Derived from Father Joseph
In another sense, Jesus was named after his adoptive father, saint Joseph. At Gabriel’s suggestion, he named the baby Jesus. For he will save his people from their sins.
3. Jesus is also known as ‘Emmanuel’
This is something that has been confusing people for centuries. This verse in the Gospel of Matthew says, “The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.
Then why did he name him Jesus? Thomas Aquinas explains, since ‘Jesus’ means ‘salvation’, ‘Emmanuel’ represents the cause of this salvation. It is the unity of the divine and human qualities of the Son of God.
Isaiah 9: 6 says, “He will be called Almighty God, Eternal Father, King of peace” – this verse speaks of the fruits of the name Jesus.
4. ‘Jesus’ is a New Name
Isaiah 62: 2 says that the name Jesus is a new name. But the name Jesus is not new. The name ‘Joshua’ is often used before and after Jesus. All those Joshuas were saviors in a special and temporary sense. But in the sense of spiritual and universal salvation, this name is apt for Christ. Hence it is called a ‘new’ name – saint Thomas Aquinas explains.
Just as ‘Eve’ means ‘Mother of all living’, ‘Abraham’ means ‘Father of many nations’, ‘Peter’ means ‘Rock’, ‘Jesus’ means ‘Lord and Savior’.
5. The Name Jesus is Sacred
The Jews have great respect for the sanctity of names – especially of God. The law did not even allow them to pronounce God’s name. Jesus passed on this tradition to us by teaching us to pray to the Father, “Let your name be sanctified.” Since Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, his name is also holy. Saint Paul says: “In the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth, and the earth beneath.” Jesus is the name that has authority over the server.
6. ‘Jesus ‘ is the Name of Healing
To the lame man who was begging at the beautiful gate, St. Peter says, “I have neither silver nor gold in my hand: arise and walk in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” In this one sentence that lame man is recovering. The name ‘Jesus ‘ is the name of healing.