A Series on the Names of God
Aside from the gospel accounts which documents Jesus' life and ministry, there are few instances where God explicitly calls upon Jesus.
The gospels' record of what title God calls Jesus leaves little doubt to the reader what God thinks about their relationship.
My Beloved Son
After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the
Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am
well-pleased." (Matt 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11;
Luke 3:21-22)
Through the inspiration of Old Testament prophets, the Holy Spirit uses names and titles of Jesus that affirm God's divine relationship
with Jesus and reveal God's intended role for Jesus with human beings.
Of God's relationship with Jesus:
Son
I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from
him who was before you. But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.
(1 Chron 17:13-14)
While David would understand this prophecy in the immediate context (1 Chron 22:9-10),
Nathan's prophecy was in the context of the Davidic Covenant and the promise of a King from the seed of David that will last forever.
My Son
So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there
until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
(Matt 2:14 [Hos 11:1])
Of God's plan for Jesus' relationship with human beings:
Immnauel
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will
call His name Immanuel. (Isa 7:14 [Matt 1:21-23])
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His
name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa 9:6)
My Servant and My Chosen One in whom My soul delights
Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;
My chosen one in whom My soul delights.
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He
will bring forth justice to the nations. (Isa 42:1)
Arm of the Lord
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord;
Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago.
Was it
not You who cut Rahab in pieces,
Who pierced the dragon? (Isa 51:9)
The Lord Our Righteousness
Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord,
"When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And He will
reign as king and act wisely
And do justice and righteousness in the land.
In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will
dwell securely;
And this is His name by which He will be called,
'The Lord (Yĕhovah) our righteousness (tsedeq).'"
(Jer 23:5-6)
In this example, God's name YHWH is given to Jesus as Yahweh-Tsidkenu (The Lord is our righteousness).
Messiah the Prince
So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the
Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.
(Dan 9:25)
The Messenger of the Covenant
"Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will
suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the Lord of hosts.
(Mal 3:1)
Ruler
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come
forth a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel. (Matt 2:6
[Micah 5:2; 2 Sam 5:2])
Horn of Salvation
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—(Luke 1:69)
The Sunrise from on High
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
(Luke 1:78)
As a messenger of God, unfallen angels reveal names and titles of Jesus that reflect God's intentions of His Son but within the context of
reverence for the supreme act of atonement. In contrast, fallen angels reveal names of Jesus that reflect only a respect of His person and
power.
Of unfallen angels:
Jesus
But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of
David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son;
and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matt 1:20-21)
Son of the Most High
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His
father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
(Luke 1:32-33)
Savior
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all
the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
(Luke 2:10-11)
Of fallen angels:
The Holy One of God
Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, "What business do we
have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!"
(Mark 1:23-24)